Press Releases

June 3, 2009

Joan Galvan, Public Information Officer
(805) 965-0581 ext. 2307
(805) 963-7222
jcgalvan@sbcc.edu

SBCC Awarded Grants For Green Construction/Landscaping/Multimedia Initiative

Santa Barbara City College recently received two major grants for program development from the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges:

SBCC was awarded a two-year grant for $711, 436 for Green Construction and Green Landscaping. Under the direction of Douglas Hersh, Dean of Educational Programs, Technology, in association with Dr. Patrick Foster, Director, Construction Academy, and Dr. Mike Gonella, Chair, Environmental Horticulture, the grant comprises the planning and delivery of classes that provide students a background in green technologies and the training necessary to conduct free sustainability audits for local business and homeowners. Students may then take the next step by learning about water use, weatherization, and solar photovoltaic – knowledge which will help them find new technology jobs or even start green businesses themselves.

A contractor with over 30 years’ experience, Dr. Foster noted that SBCC is "developing this program to keep pace with local community needs -- and with the national and international need to conserve resources and reduce the fierce competition for them.”

Dr. Gonella pointed out that "With relatively small inputs and shifts to existing landscape systems, vast amounts of water, energy, soil resources, and plant materials can be conserved. Also, transitioning from synthetic and non-local resource inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, soil, etc.) reduces environmental and human health concerns related to landscaping and small-scale agriculture and can be achieved much more inexpensively than conventional practices."

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, over 100,000 new solar sector jobs will be created by December 2010. Similarly, in the next three years nearly 200,000 new jobs will be created in the
wind power sector. Dean Hersh invites anyone interested in learning about becoming an energy auditor, wind energy technician, insulation and weatherization specialist, solar photovoltaic or solar thermal installer, grey water technician, green landscaper or abatement specialist to find out more about the program. Contact Dr. Foster at foster@sbcc.edu or Dr. Gonella at gonella@sbcc.edu

The SBCC School of Media Arts was awarded a grant for $162,000 to provide the leadership for the Multimedia & Entertainment Initiative (MEI), a program within the Economic Workforce Development Program. The grant will fund statewide leadership to the six existing regional MEI Centers, including SBCC’s premier School of Media Arts.

According to Guy Smith, SBCC Dean of Educational Programs, the grant will be directed by Stephen Wright, a communications technology executive specializing in market strategy and business development.

With the shift in the last decade in the California economy, major components like aerospace, agriculture and the motion picture industry have declined while industries like information communications technology (ICT), healthcare, and general business services (professional services, retail, small and medium business) have expanded, said Dean Smith.

He added, “Digital Arts have a greater role to play in all of these industries and markets due to the pervasive availability of broadband technologies and the public appetite for visual information in entertainment, business and personal applications.”

According to Mr. Wright, the core growth of the ICT industry is both a source of multimedia and entertainment job growth and a catalyst to business development in other industries. Therefore, the new direction of the MEI will focus on both ICT industry job growth and economic development in healthcare and general business due to ICT applications.

Under Mr. Wright’s direction, the strategic outcomes of the MEI centers include: bringing clarity and consistency to digital arts ICT training; initiating and helping to identify and develop curriculum; developing on-line marketing collateral, curriculum, seminars, and interactive web tools; establishing Hispanic business involvement; and aligning green economy values and objectives.

Previously Mr. Wright initiated several Ventura County economic development projects and conducted market research regarding New Media applications and business communications evolution. He can be reached at steve@wrightca.com or (805) 496-8583.

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