Two L.A. Colleges Receive $400K in Community Project Funding

The Los Angeles Community College District announced recently that two of its schools—Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) and Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC)—will receive $400,000 in Community Project Funding. Congressman Tony Cárdenas announced that the funds will go toward expanding the schools’ workforce development and biotech programs, according to a news release.

“Valley and Mission Colleges are no stranger to building up and investing in the next generation of leaders and innovators,” said Cárdenas. “This $400,000 we secured for additional training programs will help our future STEM workforce build the skills needed to thrive. Thank you, Los Angeles Community College District, for working with our office to bring much-needed federal dollars to the San Fernando Valley. Together, we will inspire and empower current and future diverse STEM leaders.”

The donation marks the first time that Congress has passed Community Project Funding (funds that members of Congress can request to meet their districts’ needs) since 2009. Cárdenas submitted ten funding requests and was approved for all of them, sending $12 million to the northeast San Fernando Valley to support community needs for both education and beyond.

“Our community colleges are gateways to success and to high-growth careers,” said LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.  “We are incredibly appreciative that two of our campuses that serve San Fernando Valley residents are the recipients of Congressman Cárdenas’ Community Project Funding (CPF) initiative. This generous support secures our ability to continue to provide accessible and high-quality education, and deliver valuable skills and training for the 21st-century marketplace.”

The news release also reports that LAMC will use its funds to improve both space and equipment related to creating specialized cell culture training for its biotechnology program.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.