Rep. Costa Announces $3 Million Grant for West Hills Community College

WASHINGTON,D.C. –West Hills Community College was awarded a $3 million grant for greentechnology job training and curriculum. The grant was awarded by theUnited States Department of Labor through the Pathway Out of Poverty grantprogram.

"Greentechnology, like solar farming or energy efficient construction, is anup-and-coming industry in our Valley. Investments made to train people inthis industry will help create new jobs and help our local economy," Costasaid. "I'm thrilled to see these funds allocated to West Hills CommunityCollege, where Valley residents can learn new skills or advance careers,"

"These‘Pathways Out of Poverty' grants will help workers in disadvantaged communitiesgain access to the good, safe and prosperous jobs of the 21st Century greeneconomy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Green jobs presenttremendous opportunities for people who have the core skills and competenciesneeded in such well-paying and rapidly growing industries as energy efficiencyand renewable energy."

TheDepartment of Labor's Pathways Out of Poverty grants will integrate trainingand supportive services into cohesive programs that will help targetedpopulations find pathways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiencythrough employment in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Despite the economic downturn, these green industries present many potentialopportunities for individuals to learn new skills and competencies, gain employmentand advance along career pathways.