Inflation Reduction Act to Produce More Career Opportunities for California Community Colleges Students

August 12, 2022
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Interim Chancellor Daisy Gonzales, PhD, issued the following statement on the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act:

“The Inflation Reduction Act will provide overdue federal investment in expanding the fight against climate change with incentives for electric vehicles, energy efficiency in homes and expansion of renewable energy production – all fields that California’s community colleges have been educating workers for to meet the goals of this groundbreaking legislation. Many colleges are expecting increased enrollments to meet new increased industry labor demand driven by consumer incentives. Our colleges create an annual economic impact of $128.2 billion, equal to approximately 4.2% of California’s total gross state product, according to a recent economic impact report. California’s community colleges support nearly 1.5 million jobs, or one of every 16 jobs in the state, and they stand ready to help our state accelerate the fight against climate change, which increasingly affects our students and colleges with fires, drought and other disasters. Other benefits of the legislation will make health care more affordable for many students and remediate pollution in disadvantaged communities.”

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 1.8 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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