Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe presented a check for $100,000 to Cerritos College on Monday, November 30. The funds will support the automotive partnership building, Southland Cerritos Center for Transportation Technologies, which is scheduled for completion in February 2010.
The new $6 million automotive partners building will be a unique facility serving the college and its private/industry partners.
Northwood University’s west coast program center, which offers a bachelor’s degree in automotive management for full-time students and working adults, will be using the classrooms in this facility. Meeting rooms and show rooms will be used by car dealers to provide ongoing training for their employees and conduct new vehicle model presentations.
When completed in 2010, the center will give the students exposure to the real life experiences of their chosen profession and perhaps provide an opportunity for student placement within the industry.
Knabe, who has been a great supporter of the college for many years, is impressed by this private/public partnership mode which brought many auto dealers together in support of this project.
This is a visionary kind of project, said Supervisor Knabe. Competing auto dealers are coming together in support of the new automotive partners building. This will play a large role in filling the ever-changing, highly-skilled employment needs of the auto industry. I’m glad to be part of this great project.
We appreciate the commitment and continued support from Supervisor Knabe, said Dr. Linda Lacy, Cerritos College President/Superintendent. We are excited about this partnership which will allow us to educate and train tomorrow’s automotive industry workforce.
Cerritos College has offered automotive technology training since the college was established in 1955. Each year nearly 1,000 students seek certificate degrees and special programs in the disciplines of automotive repair, advanced transportation technologies, auto collision repair, intelligent transportation systems and alternative fuel and hybrids, making it one of the most comprehensive programs in the United States.
As one of ten state Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Initiative Centers, the Cerritos College Automotive Technology Program continues to be recognized as a regional and state leader.
Cerritos College’s Automotive Technology Program provides students with hands-on, nationally authorized training for GM, Ford, Chrysler and import vehicles, and operates a California Advanced Transportation Technology Center partially subsidized by the state to encourage development of alternative fuel sources.