U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced on Sept. 27 that his department’s Economic Development Administration is awarding a $3 million grant to the Oakland-based Peralta Community College District to boost workforce training opportunities.
Ross said the grant will allow the district to renovate, expand, and modernize the College of Alameda’s Aviation Technology Maintenance Training facility.
The college estimates that the project will create 1,109 new jobs and retain 1,000 jobs.
“President Trump is committed to ensuring that American businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need to compete globally,” Ross said in a statement.
“Through the expansion of this training center, businesses in Oakland will continue to achieve success as a result of a highly-trained workforce.”
Ross said the grant will support the refurbishment of the current facility at the College of Alameda to provide area residents with expanded workforce training opportunities.
He said the project will help create higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs for the region’s workforce.
The Peralta Community College District operates four community colleges: Berkeley City College, Laney College and Merritt College in Oakland and the College of Alameda.
The Economic Development Administration says its mission is to promote competitiveness and prepare the nation’s regions for growth and success in the world economy.
The agency says it makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
