Editor, Gov1

San Bernardino County Opens Tech Training Center with TAACCCT Grant

Leveraging grant money, the county and its education partners have established free training to address predicted workforce shortfalls facing its manufacturing industry base.

By Andrea Fox, Gov1 Senior Editor

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIF. — The Inland Empire Regional Training Consortium and partners have used approximately $15 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grants from the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education to provide free manufacturing workforce training.

According to the county, the new Industrial Technical Learning Center (InTech Center), located on the California Steel Industries campus near Fontana, Calif., will train more than 2,000 workers in advanced manufacturing, advanced transportation, logistics, energy and utilities, computers and digital media. Through the International Facility Management Association, there are also courses in control systems technology.

There is no cost to employers or employees for the training programs. Curriculum will focus on developing the career paths of workers with high school diplomas or equivalent in a hands-on training environment. Courses like electrical bootcamp, or certification programs like automated systems technician, are available.

The county cited an Inland Empire Center of Excellence report showing that 4,350 advanced manufacturing businesses within San Bernardino and Riverside counties generated $24 billion in revenue and provided 96,519 jobs in 2012. The report says more than 90 percent of advanced manufacturing employers in the Inland Empire region anticipate growth and 45 occupations are expected to generate more than 2,000 jobs annually. Further, industry research has 84 percent of manufacturing executives citing a talent shortage exacerbated by the millions of manufacturing professionals that will be retiring over the next decade.

Janice Rutherford, the San Bernardino County’s second district supervisor, called the center a game changer in recruiting and retaining manufacturers and tech-related industries in the region.

"Workforce shortages or skills deficiencies in production roles have a significant impact on the ability of manufacturers to meet customer demand. This center was funded specifically to fill that gap. It will provide training to workers and in turn, these skilled workers will provide the workforce to build a strong manufacturing base in the county…To be able to provide training and jobs matching programs at no cost to employers is a significant benefit to business owners that locate to the area,” she said.