Workforce Development Office to extend partnership with SDSU-IV.
Continuing with its efforts to provide training opportunities to local students, the Imperial County Workforce Development Office is now looking into strengthening its partnership with San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus.
On Tuesday, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved a request made by Workforce Development Office Director Miguel Figueroa to approve an agreement with the SDSU Research Foundation to provide professional services under the Employee Development and Advancement Program.
The goal of such program is to allow students who are close to graduation to be able to get employment readiness skills activities and training which will allow them to find a career soon after graduation.
“The focus of this project is to make sure that those students that are about to graduate and get into the workforce are prepared with the skills in empowerment, leadership and customer service,” Figueroa said. “By doing this we decided that the best way to accomplish this is by partnering with small governments in Imperial County.”
The program began placing eight students to work with city government in Calexico and due to the benefit was seen up to date, Figueroa said his office has taken the time to think as to what are the appropriate next steps to take.
“We’ve decided to take a step back regroup and expand,” he said. “We first began with Calexico and there now is a growing interest El Centro, Imperial, and Brawley. We’re just starting off and this program will evolve and eventually incorporate students that are not necessarily SDSU students.”
The cost of the agreement for the program is $35,000 and will be funded through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act monies.
Detention facility
The Board also voted unanimously to approve a request made by the County Executive Office to approve an additional $7 million in funding for the costs of construction of the new Oren Fox Detention Facility in El Centro.
Deputy County Executive Officer Joe Picazo told the board initially $7.5 million had been budgeted to cover all the construction expenses for this fiscal year, the costs were greater than anticipated.
Picazo said that so far the county has already billed the state for more than $11 million out of the $33 million grant awarded by the state. The $33 million detention facility is expected to be completed early next year.