The San Diego Community College District has secured $1.1 million in state grants to expand apprenticeships for professions ranging from carpenters and electricians to microbiology quality control technicians.
San Diego Miramar College will receive $600,000 to expand the number of apprenticeships in nine areas — microbiology quality control technician, chemistry quality control technician, regulatory compliance associate, regulatory affairs specialist, clinical research coordinator, quality assurance associate/GXP auditor, clinical trial assistant, drug safety advocate and clinical data coordinator.
The college, home of the Southern California Biotechnology Center, will partner with Rx Research Services Inc. to place at least 30 apprentices at more than 17 companies, according to the district.
San Diego City College will receive $500,000 to work with San Diego Continuing Education, Palomar College and Southwestern College in creating a regional apprenticeship framework for students who want to be a carpenter, electrician, machinist, pipefitter, plumber or sheet metal worker.
Attention will be focused on increasing the number of participants from underserved communities in the program, which is expected to get at least 200 people into registered apprenticeships.
"Workforce development is a major focus of the San Diego Community College District, and these grants will go a long way in enabling the district to strengthen programs that contribute significantly to our regional economy,'' said SDCCD Chancellor Constance Carroll.
Both grants came from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, and were approved by the district Board of Trustees at its Jan. 28 meeting.
