Mendocino College receives $1 million to expand construction trades
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
- Posted On
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Sen. Mike McGuire on Friday announced that $1 million has been dedicated over the next three years to expanding construction trades programs at Mendocino College in order to assist in the fire rebuild.
McGuire, who represents both the counties of Lake and Mendocino, has been working to secure funding to meet the workforce needs to spur the rebuilding of these communities.
In an event at Mendocino College in Ukiah on Friday morning, McGuire announced that $1 million has been secured to expand the college’s construction career program – over the next three years.
The expansion dollars will be focused on recruiting additional students into the program in both Lake and Mendocino counties, which will expand the construction workforce, grow business partnerships, hire additional faculty and purchase needed equipment.
“The fires over the last five years have greatly exacerbated the labor shortages Mendocino and Lake counties have traditionally witnessed in the construction trades,” McGuire said. “Today’s investment will be a shot in the arm for the local economy, but more importantly, an opportunity to provide young people with the tools they need for a construction career and a family-sustaining wage. We’re grateful to partner with the College on this potentially life-changing program.”
Mendocino College is currently working to expand its Sustainable Construction and Energy Technology program and will be able to offer additional courses with specific training opportunities immediately.
The $1 million investment will allow the college’s construction core program to expand by approximately 40 percent and the college has set a benchmark that 75 percent of the students who participate in the additional offerings will either gain employment or increase wages in the construction field within six months of participating in the program.
“Mendocino College is thrilled to expand its critical role in supporting the region’s economic development. This significant investment for fire recovery construction training spearheaded by Sen. McGuire for Mendocino and Lake counties will provide tremendous support for our communities’ recovery by addressing the labor shortage and preparing our Sustainable Construction and Energy Technology students for improved earnings and living wage attainment. This funding will serve as a catapult to a more robust, self-sufficient and continuously evolving construction program,” said Eileen Cichocki, Mendocino College interim superintendent/president.
The fires throughout Northern California have been unprecedented in size and scope. Because construction workers could make more money rebuilding homes in Sonoma and Napa counties, many skilled workers traveled south and west, which left an even greater shortage in both Mendocino and Lake counties.