CALIFORNIA - Education creates a strong base for future growth, and that is what Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) is looking to promote with his recent introduction of the Community College Agriculture Advancement Act. The bipartisan bill would fund community college workforce training, education, and research programs in ag to benefit future farmworkers.

“The number one industry on the Central Coast is agriculture. But currently, the funding we provide to educate and train our next generation of farmers is not reaching one of our most important local educational resources: our community colleges,” said Representative Carbajal. “Our bipartisan bill puts the training of future farmers first; boosting the resources our community and technical colleges have, and in turn helping more people access the educational and workforce training initiatives that support the backbone industry of our region.”

The legislation will be considered for inclusion in this year’s Farm Bill, according to a release. This bill would amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to allow community colleges to access grant money for agriculture programs. It would establish a competitive U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant program wherein the nation’s nearly 1,100 community colleges could apply for money to fund workforce training, education, research, and outreach programs in agriculture.

With the potential program grants, community colleges could use funding to:

• Successfully compete for funds from federal grants and other sources to carry out educational, research, and outreach activities
• Disseminate information relating to agriculture, renewable resources, and other relevant communities
• Encourage collaboration involving community colleges, land grant universities, and other higher education institutions
• Purchase equipment and other infrastructure
• Advance the professional growth and development of faculty
• Develop apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities

Carbajal is leading the bill in the House with Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS). Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Todd Young (R-IN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Roger Wicker (R–MIS) are leading the bill in the Senate.

Supporters include the Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement, the Rural Community College Alliance, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), and others.

To read more about the bipartisan bill, click here.

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