Chevron has deep roots in Richmond. In fact, when the Richmond Refinery opened in 1902, the City of Richmond had not yet been incorporated. Today we are the largest employer in Richmond providing jobs for 3,800 employees and contractors at our facilities in Richmond.
While much has changed in the last 114 years, Chevron remains an important part of Richmond. In the past four years alone, Chevron has invested nearly $600 million helping grow the local economy by supporting Richmond businesses, paying taxes that fund essential public services, supporting non-profit organizations, training workers and educating students to obtain high skill jobs that pay competitive wages.
In support of this effort, Chevron recently teamed up with RichmondBUILD to host a Telephone Town Hall to provide information about the training and workforce development programs available for Richmond residents.
Participants enjoyed a lively Q&A session with panelists including Mayor Tom Butt, Sal Vaca, Director of the City of Richmond Employment & Training Department, and Don Zarraonandia, a maintenance supervisor at the Chevron Richmond Refinery and a Regional Occupational Program graduate. Through an open dialogue with the panelists, community members learned about a host of programs designed to bolster their skills for competitive paying jobs.
While many of the participants were seeking information for their own career development, others asked questions on behalf of family members. The conversation revealed the wealth of skill-building programs for community members at all stages of life.
Potential jobs seekers had the opportunity to learn about the Regional Occupational Program (ROP), a partnership between Chevron and the Contra Costa County Office of Education. ROP offers entry level training for individuals looking to enter the petrochemical industry.
The City of Richmond and Chevron have a proud heritage and, together, we have a bright future. We are dedicated to helping Richmond reach its greatest potential by making investments to modernize our refinery, helping to improve Richmond schools and creating career-building opportunities for local residents.
