L.A. County’s Skilled Trades Summer Program Expands Opportunities for Youth, Supported by Harbor Freight
This summer, over 600 high school students across Los Angeles County will gain paid, hands-on experience in skilled trades like construction, welding, solar installation, auto services, and more through the L.A. County Skilled Trades Summer initiative, supported by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. The program, which has seen an almost 50% increase in enrollment compared to last year, strives to address both workforce shortages and the need for rebuilding communities affected by recent wildfires. Students earn industry-recognized certifications and play a role in tackling urgent infrastructure and housing challenges in the region.
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Senior Director of L.A. County Programs Belen Vargas said, “We’re investing in building a bridge between students looking for career pathways and a workforce that is losing carpenters, plumbers, and electricians faster than they can be replaced. L.A.’s urgent infrastructure needs, including fire recovery, further exacerbated this issue. The summer programs offer unique and inspiring opportunities to acquire career skills thanks to our growing network of teachers, community groups, employers, unions, and local government agencies.”
Now in its fifth year, the initiative has grown significantly, with 10 education and community partners on board for 2025. New collaborators like Pasadena City College and Long Beach City College are offering expanded programming, especially in communities impacted by disasters like the Eaton Fire. Harbor Freight Tools for Schools also continues to deepen existing partnerships with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor and BRIDGE Housing. The Skilled Trades Summer program addresses the near-elimination of skilled trades education in most L.A. County high schools, where less than 20% currently offer such courses. By investing in these summer opportunities, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is helping bridge a growing gap between student career readiness and a skilled labor force in decline. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. 90% of past participants and their families recommend the program.
Learn more here: https://hftforschools.org/los-angeles-county/
Temu and ShipStation Collab to Empower U.S. Sellers With Streamlined Shipping Solutions
Temu has announced a strategic partnership with ShipStation®, a cloud-based shipping services provider, to help U.S. businesses improve operational efficiency and expand their customer base. The collaboration enables American sellers to integrate Temu with ShipStation’s platform, allowing seamless order management and shipment processing and fulfillment. By automating key tasks such as order routing, shipping label generation, and delivery tracking, the integration simplifies logistics and enhances sellers’ ability to meet growing customer demands.
Michael Haswell, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Auctane, the parent company of ShipStation, said, “ShipStation is dedicated to enabling merchants to succeed, everywhere they sell. Our integration with Temu reflects this commitment by providing U.S. sellers with the tools they need to efficiently manage orders and deliver exceptional customer experiences across this rapidly growing marketplace.”
ShipStation brings to the table a robust network of over 400 integrations with carriers, ecommerce platforms, marketplaces, and other technologies. The platform offers users access to deep shipping discounts of up to 90% off standard rates and advanced rate comparison tools to ensure cost-effective fulfillment. These features can save merchants as much as 20 hours per week, consolidating operations into a single dashboard for improved productivity and customer service. Since its U.S. debut in September 2022, Temu has rapidly gained popularity by offering affordable, high-quality products across more than 90 global markets. In 2024, it became the most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store and earned recognition on USA TODAY’s “America’s Best Stores 2025” list. With its marketplace now open to all U.S. sellers as of November 2024, Temu is focused on expanding local merchant participation and enhancing delivery performance.
Cousins Subs and Summerfest Reunite for Ultimate VIP Concert Giveaway
Cousins Subs returns as a partner and vendor at this year’s Summerfest, which will be presented by American Family Insurance. They are partnering to offer music lovers across the Midwest an unforgettable VIP experience. Through June 8, 2025, fans can enter the Big Gig Giveaway to try to win exclusive access to one of nine concerts at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater in Milwaukee. Each prize package includes two premium concert tickets, VIP passes, a gift card to the Summerfest Store, a meal from Cousins Subs, hotel accommodations for one night, and complimentary parking.
Cousins Subs VP of Marketing Justin McCoy said, “Summerfest brings an incredible energy to Milwaukee every year, and we’re proud to be part of the experience. From the music to the food, this is our chance to celebrate what makes summer in the Midwest so special—and our VIP giveaway and exclusive festival flavors help fans make the most of it.”
The giveaway covers a dynamic lineup of headlining acts scheduled throughout the Summerfest event. Winners will enjoy performances from artists such as Def Leppard, Hozier, James Taylor, Jason Mraz, Lainey Wilson, The Killers, Megan Thee Stallion, Benson Boone, Bad Omens, and The Lumineers. A staple at Summerfest since the early 1980s, Cousins Subs will continue to serve up its deli-fresh favorites at the Miller Lite Oasis. This year, the brand introduces two limited-edition offerings exclusive to the festival: the Italian Stallion Sub, stacked with a medley of Italian meats and toppings, and the Big Bang Shake, a vanilla gelato dessert infused with orange syrup and fun toppings along with an edible straw. Alongside these new items, fans can enjoy Cousins’ signature subs, fries, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, and shakes that have made Cousins a local favorite for decades.
Learn more about the giveaway here: https://cousinssubs.com/sweepstakes/big-gig-giveaway
Original Article Links:
‘Earn and Learn’ Skilled Trades Programs for L.A. High Schoolers to Expand This Summer as Demand for Workers Grows Amid Existing Shortages
Temu Partners with ShipStation to Streamline Order Fulfillment for US Sellers
Cousins Subs Gives Guests Chance to Win VIP Summerfest Concert Experience