VOLU ME 25
ISSUE 4
CHAFFEY
B R E E Z E MONDAY + OCTOBER 6 , 2014
NEWS
FEATURE
FEATURE
SPORTS
Students Hot for Club Rush
‘Yes means Yes’
‘Eat Your Sidewalk’
Meagan Broy Eyes X-Games
$15 Million In Funding for IE Colleges Chaffey College is slated to receive over $6.6 million out of nearly $15 million in grants being awarded to a consortium of 12 Inland Empire colleges this year. The funds stem from a $450 million federal grant pool to be divided among 270 community colleges nationwide as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) competitive grant program co-administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education. Chaffey applied for the grant as part of the Inland Empire Regional Training Consortium (IERTC) — of which Chaffey is the official representative, receiving all the funds, which will then be administered throughout the member schools to provide resources to educate and train people in the manufacturing industry, specifically within the Inland Empire. “It’s all about the community. It’s for the workers out there that are struggling, whose jobs have moved overseas,” Ray Cuellar, resource development specialist and author of the grant said. “It’s important to focus on the fact that this is working within the Inland Empire,” he said. “This is a regional center…It’s going to allow, not just Chaffey students, but everyone in the outskirt communities to benefit from it.” The IERTC consists of 12 schools besides Chaffey: Norco College; Barstow Community College; College of the Desert; Mt. San Jacinto College; Victor Valley College; San Bernardino Valley College; Crafton Hills College; Riverside City College; MiraCosta College; California State University, San Bernardino; and University of California, Riverside, and many local businesses, most notably California Steel Industries (CSI). CSI has donated a building to be
used by the consortium to provide programs to help workers in the advanced manufacturing field. “The funding is going to go to the center that will be able to fund all those programs,” Peggy Cartwright, director of Marketing and Public Relations, said. “This really is a partnership.” The IERTC has been putting this project together over several years, with one goal in mind. “Jobs,” Cuellar said. “The goal is to train the people of the community to be ready to accept these jobs.” There are a multitude of manufacturing jobs available, but there is a lack of resources that is preventing the businesses from hiring people well trained in the field. The objective is to use the grant to funnel resources into education and job training. “It puts Chaffey on the map. Chaffey is a household name in this area, but if you step outside of it,” Cartwright said, “people can’t even say our name right.” “We’re being noticed, finally,” said Cuellar. This was Cuellar’s first big project at Chaffey. “Compliments to him,” Cartwright said. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of skill. I’m very impressed.” For more information, contact Kathleen Dutton, director of Employment Development & Community Education, by phone or email at 909652-6042 and Kathy.Dutton@chaffey. edu. Chaffey hosted a Manufacturing Day partnered with the Chino Airport on Oct. 3, showcasing manufacturing careers to students and teachers.
BREE PETERSON @LambdaAquiarius Illustration by CALVIN HUANG