Partnership between CAC and Gila Community College yielding benefits for young people in two counties

The Gila/Pinal Workforce Investment Board selected the CAC-GCC joint application in the late spring of 2012 as the recipient of the grant with a designated start date of July 1, 2012. The process to fill the grant coordinator position currently is underway.

“When two community colleges create a partnership that benefits the youth of our areas, it is an incredible statement of collaboration that sends a positive message to the people we serve,” Dr. Doris Helmich, interim president of Central Arizona College, stated.

Dr. Stephen Cullen, the senior dean at Gila Community College, echoed Helmich’s sentiments.

"I would like to state on behalf of Gila Community College that we are extremely pleased regarding the recent award of WIA youth funds to Central Arizona College. We maintain that our collaboration with Central Arizona College will provide an extraordinary opportunity for the deserving students throughout the Gila-Pinal region. We sincerely believe that this will provide an opportunity for an efficient and economic delivery system for WIA funds."

The total award for the grant is $1,630,366 distributed over three years. The first distribution of $630,366 was received this summer, while the remaining $1 million will be doled out in increments of $500,000 over the next two years as long at the joint venture between the two community colleges is meeting its goals.

This marks the first collaboration between the two community colleges on a project of this type.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) reforms federal job training programs and creates a new, comprehensive workforce investment system.

The reformed system is intended to be customer-focused, to help Americans access the tools they need to manage their careers through information and high-quality services, and to help U.S. companies find skilled workers.

Additional services and activities include tutoring and study skills, occupational skills training, supportive services, mentoring, follow-up services, work readiness training, and guidance counseling.

CAC has provided academic education, job training, work experience opportunities, and related services since its inception in 1969.

Previous grant projects met and often exceeded their core objectives for providing education, training and support services to youth and adults.

Other supporters and partnerships include the Arizona Youth Partnership, Hayden-Winkelman Unified School District, Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT), Seeds of Hope, Coolidge Youth Coalition, Pinal Hispanic Council, Coolidge Rotary Club, Great Western Bank, Vista Grande High School and the United States Forest Service (USFS).