Strategic Partnerships

Los Rios Community College, Business and Community Partners: Strategic and Deep Workforce Collaboration

Los Rios Community College District (LRCCD) is a recognized leader in education, and workforce and economic development. LRCCD—along with a broad group of business, academic, community development, governmental, labor, infrastructure, and technology organizations—has created a valuable and deep collaboration, the Green Capital Alliance (GCA). GCA is working to strategically expand green economic development using the regional workforce to support projected growth.

LRCCD served as a key facilitator for a series of CEO roundtables to define the training needs in the Sacramento region. Local CEOs articulated the need for workforce training in specific areas, especially green construction, solar technology, water and wastewater plant operation, and energy efficiency (Clean Energy Technology CEO Roundtables: Greater Sacramento Region Key Findings, Kristine Mazzei, Valley Vision).

From these discussions launched The GreenForce Initiative in 2007. The initiative creates new programs of job training designed to prepare students to work in a variety of clean and green careers in the Sacramento region. LRCCD developed and implemented 12 new green certificate programs of study and increased the region’s green job training capacity.

Programs are developed to respond to the region’s needs and incorporate specific input from local CEOs and business leaders via the Green Capital Alliance, which also serves as the advisory committee for the GreenForce Initiative and continues to convene industry roundtables to ensure that programs are structured to meet the region’s needs. Programs were implemented at specific colleges to take advantage of existing curriculum strengths and faculty expertise. By design there is very little overlap between programs. (See LRCCD green training programs below.)

Deans and faculty at the colleges work closely with business “end users” to ensure that the curricula meet their needs. For example, the Certificate Program in Solar Systems Design, Estimation, and Sales at American River College requires courses in Public Speaking and Small Business Management/Entrepreneurship. Business owners emphasized that it was critical for employees in that field to be able to communicate clearly with customers and understand the needs of a small business.

GreenForce programming has provided training and certificates for over 1,000 students with 762 students employed in the Sacramento green workforce. LRCCD through constant communication with businesses and community stakeholders has been a key stakeholder in developing green workforce training programs responsive to regional industry needs.

Los Rios GreenForce Training Programs:

American River College

• Solar Energy Systems Design, Estimation, and Sales
• Solar Energy Technology
• Lighting Efficiency Technician
• Energy Management Technician
• Alternative Fuels Technology
• Clean Diesel Technology

Cosumnes River College

• Green Buildings: Environmental Design, Energy Management and Performance Based Construction
• Residential Building Performance and Energy Assessment
• Green Building Draftsperson, Building Information Management
• Sustainable Landscape and Water Systems Design
• Environmental Studies and Sustainability (AS Degree)

Folsom Lake College

• Water and Wastewater Management

Sacramento City College

• Mechanical Electrical Technology
• Commercial Building Energy Auditing and Commissioning Specialist
• Water Treatment Plant Operation
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation

For additional information:

- Los Rios CC Workforce and Economic Development
- Los Rios CC Workforce and Economic Development GreenForce Initiative
- Los Rios Community College District homepage
- Green Capital Alliance

Walter DiMantova
Director of Workforce and Economic Development
dimantw@losrios.edu