In the News:

Editorial: Seattle Community Colleges — a wise investment in students

$5M training Hall Addition Opens at South Seattle Community College Construction Complete on Colin Hall Expansion

 South Seattle Community College cut the ribbon on a $5.2 million addition to the Gene J. Colin Education Hall at 6737 Corson Ave. S. in Georgetown.

 Work Complete on Gene J. Colin Education Hall expansion

Work crews have completed a 9,800 square foot expansion to the existing Gene J. Colin Education Hall at South Seattle Community College's Georgetown campus. The $5.2 million expansion, funded by grants from the Economic Development Administration, the Washington state legislature, and the Norcliffe Foundation, will support green jobs training programs and other high-demand occupational training. The LEED-certified building will help attract new partners to promote business development and entrepreneurship training in the highly diverse communities of south Seattle. See construction underway now!

SODO Inc. Wins Governor’s Award

The Georgetown Campus-based SODO Inc. program, which provides young people with skills training and hands-on work experience in the industrial trades, was awarded a 2011 Governor’s Best Practice Award for Workforce and Economic Development on November 16th. The Best Practice Awards recognize projects that benefit both workers and the economy. The program was designed to enable low-income young adults to gain a foothold in the trades.

Program components include four weeks of hands-on classes held on the Georgetown Campus as an introduction to various trades, a paid, four-week internship with a private employer, and individual support such as one-on-one mentoring and career/education planning.

Almost 250 young people have participated in the program, which is administered by PSIEC, King County YouthSource, and the Manufacturing Industrial Council, since 2009. The students, 18 to 24 years old, come from disadvantaged backgrounds; many lack a high-school diploma, speak English as a second language, or were ex-offenders.

According to Marléna Sessions, CEO of the Workforce Development Council, which co-sponsored the program, “Employers need these skills for their businesses to thrive, and for the youth, this is a career and education path with real opportunities. For many of these young people, SODO Inc. is the first time they have been given a chance to pursue it.”

Employers have praised the program, as well. Brian Mead of Balancing Services says “I think it’s a great program. I’d highly recommend it for any kid; I’d recommend for any employer too. I think it’s great for me as an owner; we’re getting the young kids and giving back to the community.”

Some employers have even hired students full time after their internships. As Bert Cehovet, at Washington Chain and Supply, puts it: “Give them an opportunity and it’s up to them. It wasn’t our intent to hire at the end of the program, although we did. It was really a no-brainer.”

Georgetown Part of Washington Clean Energy Partnership’s i6 Grant

 The Washington Clean Energy Partnership recently secured a grant as part of the i6 Green Challenge, a multi-agency initiative to drive technology commercialization and entrepreneurship in support of a green innovation economy, increased U.S. competitiveness, and new jobs. The grant is for $1.15 million, split among the Georgetown campus's Energy Efficiency Technology Training Program and three other partners: Prosperity Partnership, Innovate Washington, and the Clean Tech Open Mentoring Program. Project activities will include the development of resources for the testing of energy efficiency solutions (through the Building Energy-Efficiency Testing and Integration Center), establishment of a public-private partership focused upon the clean energy industry, and the facilitation of the testing of clean energy products and services to enable their commercialization. The grant project is a result of the Prosperity Partnership's collaboration with the Brookings Institute's Metropolitan Business Plan program.

Senator Cantwell tours Georgetown Campus

Senator Maria Cantwell championed the Workforce Investment Act June 13 in a press conference at South Seattle Community College’s Georgetown Campus—where she highlighted the Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council (WDC)-funded green training programs. The Senator spoke to the importance of workforce development—and the critical federal funding that makes it happen.

The other featured speakers included David Allen as a representative of the WDC board, and Leonard Luna, a successful trainee of the WDC’s GreenLight Project. Leonard had looked for a job for two years before the project provided him an opportunity to earn the certifications and training he needed to get back to work. Leonard’s new employer also came to show his appreciation for a well-trained, well-prepared worker (and for the hiring help of WorkSource in general). More information on the event:

Cantwell aims to restore job-training funds (Seattle Times)

Cantwell: Keep job training (Seattle P-I)

Senator Murray tours Ballard's Pacific Shipyard, SODO Inc. Program Highlighted

U.S. Senator Patty Murray toured Ballard's Pacific Fisherman Shipyard with local workers, businesses owners and students to discuss the importance of making sure workers have the skills and training they need to fill local jobs.

Click here to see the full article.

Georgetown Campus Featured in Green Labor Journal

Georgetown Campus and its numerous training programs have been featured in a full length article in the Green Labor Journal. Georgetown Campus, well known for its successful apprenticeship training programs, is raising interest in its other training opportunities.

 Click here to see the full article.

 

 

Free Building Science Classes at Georgetown Campus

South Seattle Community College has received Federal funds from the Department of Labor to offer free college classes and short-term training certificates* for:

• Residential Energy Auditing*
• Basic Weatherization Technician*
• Level 1 Commercial Energy Auditing*
• Controls: Basics of Building Automation

Training includes the services of an Employment Specialist for those wishing to update their resume and build on these new courses to improve their employment status.

Please visit Classes at Georgetown for more details.

Jobs scarce for young adults in Washington

 Frank Benish shows Leah Scott how to operate a cement polisher on Aug. 10, 2010. The demonstration was part of the SODO, Inc., program that helps disadvantaged young people gain job experience.

Seeking Opportunities Developing Occupations (SODO, Inc.)

See complete article. 

 SODO Inc. "A Program to Watch"

Governor Chris Gregoire announced the Best Practices Awards in Workforce and Economic Development on December 1. Georgetown's SODO Inc. program was one of two programs in Washington state noted as a "Program to Watch." SODO Inc. is a training program for youth ages 18 -  24 who are low income, disadvantaged and in some cases have been involved in the criminal justice system. SODO Inc. specializes in recruiting, training, placing and retaining disadvantaged youth ages 18-24 in manufacturing while also introducing the participants to emerging green trends and apprenticeship opportunities. Students are paid for their training and treated as employee. Successful students go on to internships with local manufacturers, and the prospect of employment. Our program partner, the Manufacturing Industrial Council (MIC), recruits employers that provide the students a four-week internship following their training.

See the full program description  

See a video on the program

Contact Lauren Hadley for additional information: lhadley@sccd.ctc.edu

Building Effective Green Energy Programs In Community Colleges

Leading community colleges address the challenges of providing education for a nascent green energy industry in the midst of an economic downturn, making the case that community colleges should be substantially involved in training low-income individuals to help them lead self-sustaining lives. South Seattle Community College's Georgetown Campus is featured.
Workforce Strategy Center, May 2010
Download the report  | Watch accompanying videos

College Receives Major Federal Grant

$4 million targets expansion to support green jobs training.

(Seattle, WA) U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has announced award of a $4 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to South Seattle Community College. Funds will be used to help design and build a Leadership in Environment and Energy Design (LEED)-certified building addition at the college’s Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center (PSIEC) on the Georgetown Campus.

Coupled with a $1 million appropriation from the Washington State Legislature and a $200,000 private donation from the Norcliffe Foundation, the proposed $5.2 million expansion will support new green jobs training programs and other high-demand occupational training, said Joe Hauth, PSIEC director. It will also help attract new partners to promote business development and entrepreneurship training in the highly diverse communities of South Seattle.

Plans have been made for a 9,800 square foot expansion to the existing Gene J. Colin Education Building which was funded, in part, by a $1 million gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The building is named in honor of Gene Colin, a long-time member of the South Seattle Community College Foundation board of directors who made a generous leadership gift.

"The expansion of the Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center is consistent with the strategic goals of the Georgetown Campus to expand educational opportunities, offer new programs and provide innovative services," said South’s interim President Gary Oertli. "We’re very pleased with this award and the opportunity to build on the strengths of our Georgetown Campus."

LEED-certified buildings are energy efficient and use fewer natural resources. LEED certification has become the worldwide standard for determining building sustainability and is based on five major criteria: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; and indoor environmental quality.

When the PSIEC expansion was proposed to the Puget Sound Regional Economic Development District in 2007, the application tied for "first place regional priority." The grant proposal also received strong support from the PSIEC Coalition, composed of elected stakeholders, and business, labor, community, and education leaders.

EDA is an agency within the U.S. Commerce Department. Its mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.