The California Workforce Development Board announced its intention to award a $2-million High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) grant to the Kern Community College District (KCCD).
During the project, KCCD will convene workgroups focused on economic and workforce development opportunities related to decarbonizing key areas of Kern County’s economy: the agriculture, health, and energy sectors.
For help completing this project, KCCD assembled a coalition of higher education and community partners, including Bakersfield College, Community Action Partnership of Kern, Kern Inyo Mono Central Labor Council, Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, California State University Bakersfield, UC Merced, and the UC Merced Community & Labor Center. Together, the team members will create a strategic workforce development plan to address the changing nature of Kern County’s economy.
“California is embarking on a transformative shift in energy production and consumption, shifting to renewable energy and fuels,” explained Matt Hart, Momentum’s Chief Operations Officer. “KCCD and Bakersfield College seek to lead the regional transition to ensure that the workforce can develop the skills necessary to attract clean energy businesses and provide quality jobs within the area.”
Momentum played a critical role in crafting the grant to be achievable and impressive to the funding agency.