Last week, the San Diego State University Research Foundation was granted $1.67 million toward a new program designed to stimulate job creation. The announcement was made by Congressman Bob Filner of California’s 51st congressional district, in which the SDSU Imperial Valley campus is located.
According to official sources, the proposal “identifies the renewable energy industry as a ‘cluster’ for development, deployment and workforce training.”
The money is a joint grant given by several different administrations, including the Economic Development Administration, the Small Business Administration and the Employment Training Administration. Each agency donation will help to fund different areas, but all focus on the same outcome.
Of these administrations, the largest sum is $1,121,601 donated by the ETA. This chunk of funding will focus on individuals who have lost their jobs or whose jobs are threatened as a result of foreign trade. The ETA also aims to allow public and industry access to multiple certification programs through the College of Extended Studies and other campus programs.
The EDA’s funding has one primary goal, which is to “establish a commercial-scale proof of concept center to perform technology demonstrations, supported by multifaceted commercialization support services.” This means the EDA is helping to promote the successes of the program, including outreach and media events, while assisting in both technical and customer assistance, among other administrative support.
The donation from the SBA will be assisting business development and services such as training, mentoring consulting, technology transfer and commercialization, and assist with developing and producing new systems in the Imperial Valley campus.
Filner, who supported SDSU in its proposal of this grant, said the aid will help in creating jobs that pay well and train the workforce.
“(The grant) is truly an investment in our students, economy and environment,” Filner said.
The main goal of the program is economic development, reducing the need for H1-B visas to supply trained workforce, and small business developmental training in stressed regions. SDSU is one of 20 regions receiving aid from this program through the provided assistance from multiple federal agencies.
More information about this program and other federally funded support can be found at eda.gov or by contacting any of the administrations donating to this cause.
