Lake LA Residents Weigh In: Job Training, Childcare Top Wish List for New Learning Center

LAKE LOS ANGELES, Calif. — More than 1,100 residents have already shared their priorities for a proposed Lake Los Angeles Community Learning Center, with job training, apprenticeships, and affordable childcare ranking as top requests.

Organizers have met with community and state officials in recent weeks to discuss funding pathways, site requirements, and how the center can align with existing county and state programs. Officials emphasized the need for rural infrastructure and workforce development in the Antelope Valley, calling the project “a strong fit” for upcoming grant cycles.

What Residents Want

The survey asked locals what services they’d use most at a future center. With 1,143 online surveys completed so far, the top five responses are:

Job training — including resume help, computer skills, and trade certifications

Youth and adult apprenticeships — hands-on programs in construction, auto, healthcare, and tech

Legal support — help with housing, family law, and immigration paperwork

Wellness services — fitness classes, mental health resources, and health screenings

Affordable, low-cost childcare — a critical need for working parents across the 93591 area

“People aren’t asking for fluff. They want real tools to get better jobs and take care of their families,” said a project organizer. “After meeting with state officials, it’s clear there’s momentum to bring resources directly to Lake LA instead of making families drive 30 miles for help.”

Project Status and Costs

Planning teams are comparing two paths forward: purchasing an existing building or building new on acquired land.

Current estimates show:

New build: $2.0Mi – $3.5M for land, utilities, metal building, classrooms, garage workshop, computer lab, gym/wellness room, shared kitchen, cafeteria, parking, septic, and concrete slabs.

Purchase an existing nuilding + remodel: ∼$2.5 million to buy and renovate a suitable structure and ongoing two year expenses.

Both options would include space for the top survey priorities. The shared kitchen and garage workshop are also being designed to generate revenue through rentals and memberships to help keep core programs free for residents.

Still Taking Input

Organizers stress that community feedback is still open. “We’re at 1,143 surveys, but we want to hear from everyone in Lake LA,” Vladimir Gomez Helping Hands AV CEO said. “The conversations with community leaders and state reps confirmed what residents are saying — we need this center, and we need to build it right.”

Survey English

Encuesta Español

Residents can add their suggestions online or at upcoming pop-up booths at the Lake LA MarketPlace. Input will guide the final floor plan and programming mix before funding applications begin.

Why It Matters

With limited services and long drives to Lancaster or Palmdale for classes, legal help, or childcare, many Lake LA families say a local center would be a game-changer. The 93591 zip code is classified as a rural, high-need area, Meetings with officials have helped identify specific state workforce and infrastructure funds the project could pursue.

Get Involved

To take the survey or learn more about the Lake Los Angeles Community Learning Center project, residents can visit the Lake LA MarketPlace on Saturdays or contact organizers through the project’s social media pages.

Helping Hands AV, in partnership with SBCC, have a long-standing history of collaboration, working together to provide resources and host community events, with a full schedule of activities planned for the rest of 2026.

Salva, Save The Children, and Helping Hands AV have worked together for over a year, providing bi-monthly food distribution to support thousands of families.

To Volunteer send us a message

helpinghandsav2@gmail.com

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