Padilla Secures Over $15 Million for California Education, Employment and Economic Development Programs in Senate Appropriations Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that he secured over $15 million in federal funding for 14education and employment projects across California in several recently released Senate appropriations bills. The bills will now be reconciled with their counterparts in the House of Representatives before final passage.
“I am proud to secure investments for projects that are helping support the education and success of our children and young people across California,” said Senator Padilla. “Investing in education opportunities and employment training opportunities today will strengthen our workforce and build a stronger economy for years to come.”
California projects and programs to provide employment training and improved educational opportunities:
$2.5 million for West Kern Community College District/Taft College’s Health care Vocational Center
West Kern Community College District/Taft College serves a rural hospital-less community with limited to no health care education opportunities in an area with urgent health care professional shortages. Funding will support construction of a Vocational Center to address the severe shortage of health care professionals in the Central Valley.
$2 million for the San Gabriel Valley Workforce Development Program
This funding will support implementation of a workforce development program to provide those experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness with a path to economic security by connecting them to stable careers.
$2 million for the Guadalupe Union School District’s Early Learning Center
This funding will support the expansion of a planned early childhood learning center for preschool and pre-k students.
$2 million for Community Pavilion and Gardens at Discovery Cube LA (Los Angeles)
This funding will support Discovery Cube LA’s project to create a Community Pavilion and Gardens to expand STEM and environmental programming opportunities. The Community Pavilion and Gardens will provide a flexible educational space to host exhibits, guests, and community events.
$1.5 million for the LA Optimized Small Business Assistance Project
This funding will support a program connecting small business owners in Los Angeles to technical assistance so that they have the tools to modernize their business and expand their outreach to attract potential customers.
$1.323 million to establish the Climate Change Education Center at West Los Angeles College
This funding will support establishment of the Climate Change Education Center at West Los Angeles College, which aims to help both unemployed and underemployed individuals in procuring jobs in the green economy.
$1.2 million for the Imperial Community Kitchen Incubator Project
This project will leverage public/private partnerships to help provide low-cost entry into the market for micro-business owners wishing to produce high-quality, safe, and marketable products.
$1 million for the South LA Vision Lab
This funding will support the South LA Vision Lab, which will help bridge the digital divide in South Los Angeles. The programming at the Vision Lab will provide essential tech skills to guide youth to apprenticeships so that they have opportunities to earn a paycheck and gain work experience.
$750,000 for Medical Equipment for a New Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program at CSU San Bernardino
This funding will help purchase teaching and laboratory equipment, including exam room equipment and supplies, to support a Master of Science in Physician Assistant program. This program will help the university address the severe shortage of health care professionals serving the Inland Empire.
$750,000 for Los Angeles Community College District’s STEMM Academy for Girls, Women, and Underrepresented Students
This funding will help the Los Angeles Community College District bolster the academic pipeline of historically underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) fields and connect dislocated workers to short term credentials in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine.
$394,000 for the City of Sacramento’s Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship and Workforce Training Program
This funding will help address the childcare crisis facing Sacramento by supporting the Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship and Workforce Training Program to increase the number of childcare workers.
$382,000 for Irvine Valley College’s Access and Persistence Through Basic Need Support Program
This funding will help provide coordinated basic needs support directly to students at Irvine Valley College. The program aims to help to eliminate barriers to students’ success, such as food insecurity and homelessness.
$300,000 for the City of Sacramento’s Neighborhood Equity Initiative Pilot Program
This funding will support a community-centered approach to inclusive economic development by providing support for women- and minority-owned entrepreneurs and small/micro businesses, including technical assistance, case management, outreach, contracting opportunities, and incubation and acceleration.
$147,000 for Leaven Kids to Expand Services in Riverside and Contra Costa Counties
This funding will help Leaven Kids expand their service area with two new learning centers in Riverside and Contra Costa Counties to support children with limited or no access to high-quality after-school programs in neighborhoods that are disproportionately impacted by crime, poverty, and a lack of affordable, accessible resources.
These projects and programs were included in the Senate’s Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Labor, Health, and Human Services; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bills. Complete summaries and texts of these bills are available here.
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