Mt. SAC Secures $500,000 for Short-Term Vocational Programs
March 17, 2022 - 03:46 PM
Mt. San Antonio College has reason to celebrate with the recent passage of the federal omnibus appropriations bill, H.R. 2471, which includes $500,000 for noncredit short-term vocational programs focused on establishing pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in the health care field.
Offered by the college’s School of Continuing Education, the pre-apprenticeship program will provide students with skills in math and English, foundational theory, and hands-on clinical experience to prepare for immediate employment and entrance into an apprenticeship program. The funding also will allow for the development of apprenticeship programs in Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, Pharmacy Technician, and Medical Assistant. Employer engagement and partnerships will be necessary to provide work-experience and clinical internships.
“We are very thankful to our district’s congressional representatives, as well as Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, for their support of Mt. SAC and community colleges,” Mt. SAC Board of Trustees President Judy Chen-Haggerty, Esq., said. “This funding will directly impact those students who are eager to enter the workforce quickly and contribute to our region’s economy.”
School of Continuing Education Provost Dr. Madelyn Arballo said the demand for trained healthcare workers has never been so urgent, particularly as communities seek to recover from the economic downturn due to COVID-19. “This program will positively impact underrepresented adults, specifically students of color, immigrants, and those who are under-employed in our service area and surrounding communities by providing more opportunities for middle-income employment.”
Reps. Grace Napolitano and Young Kim submitted the community funding request, commonly known as an “earmark,” on Mt. SAC’s behalf and were key to its approval. “I am excited to be able to deliver funds directly to California’s 39th District to support important priorities across the communities I represent,” Rep. Kim said.
According to the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership’s 2020 Economic Forecast, within the Mt. SAC service area, the City of Pomona, and cities of residence for Mt. SAC students, health care services has the largest share of employment with more than 139,000 jobs in 2019. In Los Angeles County overall, the healthcare industry employed nearly 770,000 workers in 2019. Regional projections just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic estimated a 5.3% growth rate by 2021, adding more jobs than any other industry sector.
