The College of the Canyons Employee Training Institute (ETI) has received nearly $750,000 to provide local companies with “customized training programs,” officials said Wednesday.

The ETI received $749,760 from the Employment Training Panel (ETP) to provide training programs that include industry-recognized certifications, which would provide new skills and opportunities for employees, according to officials.

This is the largest contract of its kind awarded to COC, with nearly $7 million in ETP funding since 1996, according to college officials.

“This latest ETP contract focuses on retraining incumbent workers from large and small employers in the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding region,” said John Milburn, executive director of the college’s ETI. “Demand for customized training programs continues to grow as employers experience difficulty maintaining their competitive edge with rapid advances in technology and a rising number of competitors from other states and overseas, making it difficult to recruit, train and retain a skilled workforce.”

Created in 1982 by the California legislature, officials say that the ETP program helps ensure that California businesses have the skilled workers they need to remain competitive, according to college officials. 

The ETP is a performance-based reimbursement program and participating companies are subject to eligibility requirements, according to officials.

“College of the Canyons provides numerous resources to help keep businesses competitive, retain talent and increase efficiencies,” said Justin Wallace, director of educational partnerships at the college. “ETP-funded training programs are just one of the many ways businesses can partner with the college.” 

The ETP prioritizes industries they consider to be “most vital” to California’s economic growth and recovery, including manufacturing, construction, green/clean technology, biotechnology, information technology services and transportation logistics, according to officials.

To find out more, click here.

Ed. Note: The above information was provided to KHTS by College of the Canyons.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.