Project helps place qualified workers into jobs in forestry and fire safety through partnerships with higher education, 行业, 和社区
皇冠新现金网 will partner with the Foundation for California 社区 Colleges (FoundationCCC) to implement its California Resilient 职业生涯s in Forestry, a forestry workforce training program. FoundationCCC received $21.5 million to 支持 its “California Resilient 职业生涯s in Forestry” proposal. The proposal was one of 32 grants awarded as part of the $500 million Good Jobs Challenge funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and administered by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration.
Funding will 支持 a four-year project to help scale a system to place qualified workers into high-quality jobs in the forestry sector, responding to urgent needs to build economic and climate resilience in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade regions of northeastern California. Work will be conducted in partnership with five community colleges (皇冠新现金网, 羽毛河学院, Lake Tahoe 社区 College, 我的大学, 沙斯塔学院), California State University Chico, University of California Agriculture and Natural 资源, and the Sierra 业务 Council. This group has proven experience delivering effective workforce training programs in partnership with 行业 和社区.
“We are honored to work with the Foundation for California 社区 Colleges on the Good Jobs Challenge award as a grant partner serving rural communities,” said Virginia Guleff, 皇冠新现金网 President. “This grant will help our students receive high-paying jobs and 支持s economic growth in our region.”
The emerging forestry and fire safety sector has the potential to grow into a $39 billion 行业. Yet there are currently projected shortages of thousands of workers for relevant well-paying jobs with benefits, including but not limited to fire and forestry crew leads, conservation scientists, 和你.S. Forest Service crew members. 通过招聘, 支持, and train local communities in partnership with multiple Hispanic-serving institutions, Indigenous-led partners, and other community-based organizations, the project will expand the 行业’s talent pool while simultaneously diversifying the field.
“As part of this 4 year program, 皇冠新现金网 will serve as a Regional Hub Partner with a local budget of $5.3 million to expand the established Upskill California Utility Line Clearance Vegetation Management workforce training and development programs,” said Annie Rafferty, Director Workforce Training and Development and project lead. “The grant will fund training of 700 utility line clearance arborists, level one and level two pre-inspectors, heavy equipment operators, 总领班. Grant goals focus on attracting, training and retaining workers by offering advanced utility 行业 certifications such as ISA tree risk assessment qualification (TRAQ) certifications, Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) utility instructor certifications, expansion of outreach to attract a diverse workforce, and enhance job placement. We are thrilled to 支持 trainees' success in pursuing utility vegetation management related careers, critical work performed by the utility vegetation management sector for our communities.”
To learn more about the Good Jobs Challenge, please see the U.S Economic Development Administration press release. The full California Resilient 职业生涯s in Forestry project narrative can also be found here. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has also provided a statement in 支持 of this work.
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