The College of the Canyons will have its hands full in the next year thanks to a $400,000 state grant that will have them coordinating the workforce development programs of all of the community colleges in California. Called the Economic and Workforce Development Program Coordination Services Grant, it is renewable over a five-year period and will create three new positions at the college: a project director, a conference services coordinator and an hourly support position. “It’s related closely to our mission statement at the college,to provide relevant academic education at the lower division level and workforce opportunities for all who seek those kinds of opportunities,” said Bruce Getzan, dean of economic development at COC. “It was an important opportunity for us to pursue.” The grant, which the California Community College Systems Office awarded, kicks in June 1. Getzan believes that a primary reason COC obtained it is because of its history of promoting economic development in the Valley. The college has worked with the biotech and manufacturing sectors, in addition to other industries, to address workforce and economic development issues in the Valley, according to Getzan. It has also played a role in expanding and developing more than 600 businesses through a variety of training programs. To boot, COC runs an annual conference for entrepreneurs. Getzan believes that the college’s background in conference organizing was crucial because the grant mandates that its recipient run the annual Economic and Workforce Development Conference, which brings together economic development professionals as well as those from the government and private sectors. The grant also requires that COC coordinate meetings of the EdPac Advisory Committee, made up of community college presidents, other academic officials and government officials. Lennie Ciufo, director of job training at Los Angeles Valley College, is hopeful about the work that COC will do now that it has been given these additional responsibilities. “We have always believed in having people group together for a common cause,” Ciufo said. “If they can coordinate ideas and share ideas and institute partnerships for the same common goal of economic and workforce development, if they can get more of a regional approach to economic development we might be able to work out ideas and become a team.” Ciufo said that Valley College specializes in bridge training, or providing students with skills that meet the needs of specific industries. “We do a lot in logistics, a lot of manufacturing, healthcare, in giving people skill sets,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been successful in doing. As long as you organize the employers to help you determine what their needs are, you’ll be successful.” Getzan has a similar philosophy, but noted that the economic downturn will be a challenge as COC attempts to coordinate the various workforce development programs at community colleges throughout the state. “We’re in a tough economy right now, trying to keep business competitive, keeping the workforce up to date so that businesses can stay in California, stay in the Santa Clarita Valley, the San Fernando Valley and the Antelope Valley areas,” he said. For information on the three economic and workforce development positions now available at COC, contact Bruce Getzan at (661) 362-3144.
