Funding roundup

Lane Community College is redesigning its water conservation technician program. (Photo: LCC)

Lane Community College in Oregon will increase access to water conservation technician training, using a $537,310 National Science Foundation grant. Over the school year, staff will redesign Lane’s associate degree program for online delivery and launch it in fall 2019.

Taking the program online increases access for rural communities and diverse populations, according to the college. Mentors at utilities will provide field experience.

“With our grant partners, we should have a significant impact on developing a water conservation workforce,” said Roger Ebbage, principal investigator for the grant and coordinator of the college’s water conservation technician and energy management programs.

Delaware

Delaware Technical Community College will use a grant of nearly $2 million to build a new automotive training center. The grant comes from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The new, 13,500 square-foot Automotive Center of Excellence will include two classrooms, training garages and more, and is expected to create or protect about 90 jobs.

Illinois

Richland Community College’s EnRich workforce training program got a boost with a $1.5-million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grant could result in 225 new jobs in Decatur.

“We know that companies struggle to find qualified workers, and we know that workers struggle to obtain the training and skills they need to be placed in good-paying jobs,” state Sen. Andy Manar said during the grant announcement. “This program will help bridge that gap.”

With the funding, the new EnRich program will fast-track technical training. EnRich partners the college with the Economic Development Corp., Workforce Investment Solutions, the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Manufacturing Association, skilled trades organizations and local businesses to grow the area’s workforce.

Maryland

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has received a $105,804 grant from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide scholarships to 15 students in the college’s energy systems technology (EST) associate degree program. CSM has partnered with company Exelon Generation for 10 years on the EST program to provide training for current and future employees of Exelon’s Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant.

Community College of Baltimore County has received two grants totaling $1.3 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the implementation of the STEM Core Network initiative in Maryland. Created by nonprofit Growth Sector, the STEM Core Network is a partnership of nationwide scientific and technical employers, community colleges and workforce agencies focused on expanding the pipeline of students for engineering and computer science careers.

One of the grants, for $599,000, will help to implement STEM Core in central Maryland in collaboration with Anne Arundel Community College. The partnership will allow 135 students interested in cybersecurity careers to participate in the initiative over three years. CCBC also received $738,684 to participate in a 30-college network as part of the NSF-funded STEM Core Expansion Alliance. The college will serve as one of four regional hubs coordinating technical support and professional development for faculty, counselors and student-support specialists.

Michigan

Michigan’s Washtenaw Community College (WCC) is enhancing its after-school academic support services offered at the Parkridge Community Center thanks to a two-year, $133,176 grant from Washtenaw Coordinated Funders. At the center, structured after-school and evening activities are provided for K-7 students and teens.

With the funding, the college will hire a certified teacher and buy 12 laptops and docking stations.

“Our goal, with the help of our partners, is to provide consistent and comprehensive programming for Ypsilanti youth living in risk,” said WCC President Rose Bellanca. “Thanks to the funding provided by Washtenaw Coordinated Funders, we can add resources to our quest to provide emotional and physical safety, as well as building soft skills and academic competencies.”

Washtenaw Community College received a grant to enhance its work at the Parkridge Community Center. Above, students who participated in the center’s summer camp. (Photo: WCC)

About the Author

Tabitha Whissemore
Tabitha Whissemore is a contributor to Community College Daily and managing editor of AACC's Community College Journal.
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