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News Feb. 5, 2020

Mendocino College receives $1 million for construction career program

Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Calif.) recently announced $1 million has been dedicated during the next three years to expanding construction trades programs at Mendocino College, Ukiah, Calif., to help rebuild communities in the wake of California wildfires, according to lakeconews.com.

The money mainly will be used to recruit additional students into the program in Lake and Mendocino counties, which is expected to help 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 at an event Jan. 31 at Mendocino College. “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 currently is working to expand its Sustainable Construction and Energy Technology program and will be able to offer additional courses with specific training opportunities immediately.

With the $1 million investment, the college’s construction core program will be able to expand by about 40%, and the college has set a benchmark that 75% 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.

The wildfires have significantly affected Northern California, and many skilled workers went to Sonoma and Napa counties to make more money rebuilding homes, leaving a severe labor shortage in Mendocino and Lake counties.

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