CUYAMACA COLLEGE (Press Release)– This college along with three other community colleges will be providing free classes and hands-on work experience in green building and sustainable energy to 360 students through a training program funded by San Diego Workforce Partnership.

The $1.6 million in funding for the program comes from federal stimulus money along with grants from the State Energy Program, Workforce Investment Act, and State Energy Sector Partnership and others.

Robert Garber, interim president of Cuyamaca College, said the green building program is part of the college’s commitment to train workers for the expanding green economy.

“Green technology is the wave of the future,” Garber said. “Our students are getting the training they need to be a part of this growing field.”

In addition to Cuyamaca College, the five-week, 120-hour course will also take place at Southwestern College in Chula Vista; San Diego Continuing Education in San Diego; and MiraCosta College in North County. Classes are being offered now through January 2013.

 The Green Building Program will help displaced workers, the long-term unemployed, new workers, military veterans, and older youths gain the skills to compete for jobs in the expanding green economy.

“We are excited to be collaborating with our local community colleges to provide entry-level education and training in the emerging green market in San Diego County,” said Mark Nanzer, Youth Team Manager at the San Diego Workforce Partnership.

“This is an incredible opportunity to bring together the worlds of workforce development and higher education to provide training designed to prepare the workforce in San Diego for a clean energy future and help position San Diego as a nationwide leader in the new sustainable economy.”

Students who complete the program will be prepared for entry-level work in the field or to enroll in more specialized training in the areas of HVAC mechanics technicians, or installers; building performance or retrofitting specialists; building controls systems technicians; energy auditors or home energy raters; and solar photovoltaic installers.

For more information on eligibility and enrollment, as well as college training schedules, visit the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s website at www.sandiegoatwork.com or contact Gina Fiore at 619-228-2913. The San Diego Workforce Partnership has funded job training programs in the county since 1974.

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Preceding provided by Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District