The Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) delivered a major boost to the Los Angeles economy as it approved more than $400 million in new job-creating contracts that will give L.A's sagging economy a powerful lift. Just two months after the passage of Measure J, which voters approved by 70 percent, the contracts the Board of Trustees approved will create an estimated 6,037 jobs throughout Southern California. With L.A.'s unemployment rate rising to 8.4 percent and a record-high 2.6 million national job losses for 2008, LACCD is doing its part to keep Angelenos employed in these critical economic times.
“Barely two months after Los Angeles voters approved Measure J, we will transform voters’ confidence into action,” noted Kelly Candaele, president of the LACCD Board of Trustees. “This program is exactly the shot in the arm that our regional economy needs.”
Among the largest projects the Trustees approved are:
West LA College: $ 80 Million Allied Health and Wellness Center with energy generations and savings components.
Mission College: $ 70 Million East Campus project including classroom, laboratory and parking facilities with energy generations and savings components.
Harbor College: $ 28 Million Parking structures project with photo voltaic elements and smart parking technologies.
"LACCD is to be commended for moving so swiftly to get shovels in the ground,” said Jack Kyser, Founding Economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. “This $400 million boost will put people in the design and construction industries back to work when they need it and help the entire Southern California economy get back on track.”
For 2009 alone, the District is allocating $121 million in new construction contracts, which will create an estimated 1,676 jobs, $95 million in design work to boost the sector by 1,321 jobs and $85 million toward technology upgrades that will require 588 positions to be filled. Ninety-four million will be spent on land purchases for the District's building projects.
"Along with providing vital resources, job training and career paths to local residents in search of new skills for the changing job market, our building program is also putting hardworking Angelenos to work in a number of key sectors," said Marshall E. Drummond, chancellor of LACCD. "Plus, our construction program maintains its commitment to sustainability and creating green jobs. Every one of our new buildings will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards."
“If working families are going to have a shot at surviving these tough economic times it’s going to be by creating good jobs that they can support their families on,” said Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “So I commend the Los Angeles Community College District for not only investing in our students today, but for investing in the recovery of our economy.”
With this new round of contracts, the District remains a key economic engine for L.A. County. According to a recent report LACCD is responsible for pumping $9 billion into the local economy each year. Nearly 95 percent of LACCD students stay in the region after graduation and contribute directly to the L.A. economy. The LACCD-trained workforce increases County incomes by $6.6 billion each year and generates another $1.9 billion in indirect effects. In 2007, more than 200,000 students attended District schools for job training.