IVC receives a $40,000 grant from General Motors
IMPERIAL — Seven community colleges, including Imperial Valley College (IVC), were selected to study and share best practices for integrating advanced manufacturing credentials into their college curriculum, per an American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) press release.
General Motors (GM) provided a philanthropic grant of $600,000 to be administered by AACC, per the document.
“Our community colleges are the key link between students and meaningful career paths,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “Working with respected leaders in the manufacturing industry such as General Motors will allow us to ensure that there is a solid bridge between skills education and the skills needed to succeed in today’s modern manufacturing facilities.”
According to IVC, the seven selected colleges in GM locations will take part in the initial study on relevant, rapid, and stackable options that launch individuals into higher skills and higher wage opportunities. These seven community colleges will receive monthly technical assistance from AACC and $40,000 to leverage their local program findings into this national strategy.
“By any measure, it feels like IVC application was excellent, was an easy decision made on the proposal submitted by the school,” Terry Rhadigan, vice president of Corporate Giving at GM, said in an interview with the Imperial Valley Press on Wednesday, February 15. “We are very excited about our partnership with them.”
According to Rhadigan, applications for this grant started around November 2022, and selected schools were notified in January 2023.
“We’re proud that the American Association of Community Colleges and General Motors recognize the important role that Imperial Valley College and our region will have in an all-electric future,” IVP Superintendent/President Lennor Johnson said. “Based on our need and prime positioning to meet the growing workforce demands of the region, Imperial Valley
College was primed as one of the seven community colleges nationwide.”
“Our selection for this grant will expand and enhance our ability to provide advanced manufacturing credentials within our curriculum,” Johnson said. “This funding provided by GM will allow us to study and share best practices for launching students into meaningful career pathways with higher skills and wage opportunities. The programs supported by this funding are the latest examples of how we are equipping our students with the tools they need to thrive in the jobs of the future.”
“I want to thank IVC Board of Trustee, Isabel Solis, for connecting us with General Motors and being part of this opportunity for the betterment of our students and the community,” Johnson said.
Rhadigan recognized the importance of supporting the Salton Sea and Imperial Valley communities.
“We want to continue working with all community colleges, especially IVC,” Rhadigan said.