BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Following a $2 million gift from Valley Strong Credit Union to the Bakersfield College Foundation, the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve the naming of the college’s community education efforts linked to the college’s Energy Technology, Transfer and Workforce Development initiative as the Valley Strong Energy Institute.
The funds are meant to support the Bakersfield College Foundation to support the college’s work focused on energy technologies and job training for the vibrant and growing workforce in Kern County.
“We are proud to offer this bold commitment to improve lives around Kern County,” said Nick Ambrosini, president/CEO of Valley Strong Credit Union. “As our partner, Bakersfield College is uniquely positioned to make the Energy Institute a key driver for energy perseverance, which ensures a prosperous future not just for our workforce, but for the entire community.”
According to the credit union, Bakersfield College’s community-wide education efforts kicked off last year in a series of webinars with industry leaders and partners, including the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and the County of Kern.
‘Many Years in the Making’
“The energy technology transfer and workforce development initiative at Bakersfield College has been many years in the making,” said Kern Community College District Chancellor Sonya Christian. “This is critical work for our region as KCCD is becoming more of a catalyst for the jobs we want to have available for our children and grandchildren. I am super thrilled for this significant financial investment by Valley Strong Credit Union in applied Research and Development work in energy and our partnership with NREL.”
Valley Strong said Kern County, Calif. is home to an abundance of energy resources, exceeding those of almost every state in the nation and therefore it “makes sense that Bakersfield College would create an initiative focused around energy and the future workforce. Kern County is uniquely positioned geographically to be a world leader in renewable energy, including technologies such as wind, solar, biomass, and more.”
New Solar Projects
The CU added major solar projects are underway in eastern Kern County, and there are already more than 4,500 wind turbines around Tehachapi, the “Wind Capital of the U.S.”
As the first private donor to support BC’s energy related work, Valley Strong said it is providing funding and support to expand the college’s community education efforts, such as the related webinar series, development of an NREL virtual campus at BC, and efforts focused on energy workforce development for students at Bakersfield College.