San Diego County has been awarded a $25-million grant to train poor people for entry-level health care jobs. The county is the only recipient in California to win one of the new federal grants. In fact, the county received the largest award of any project of its kind in the nation.
The new program is designed to train people on welfare for health care jobs, like dental assistants and lab technicians. The grant will provide $5 million a year for the next five years to help people earn certificates and degrees.
Nick Macchione directs the County's Health and Human Services Agency. He said the program will really help fill a need.
"We have premiere health care facilities and premiere clinical leaders in San Diego, but we need also that premiere workforce to back that up," Macchione said.
Macchione added that the goal is to train and place some 5,000 people in local health care jobs. He says the county will collaborate with area employers to make the program a success.
