College of the Canyons has received a $1.1 million grant from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation to support its Advanced Technology Center, college officials announced Wednesday.
The two-year, $1,109,181 grant will support student enrollment growth, curriculum development and career pathways in advanced manufacturing, network technologies and welding, according to the Santa Clarita college.
The funding will also support outreach to students in the William S. Hart Union High School District by providing embedded career coaches and adjunct counselors at seven high schools. Officials said the effort is intended to help students explore career options and transition from high school to college and into the workforce, college officials said.
“We are incredibly grateful to The Broad Foundation for this generous investment in our students and our region’s workforce,” College of the Canyons Superintendent-President Jasmine Ruys said in a statement. “As we continue to expand and strengthen the Advanced Technology Center, this donation will play a critical role in increasing access to career education, building strong industry pathways and helping students gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy.”
The Advanced Technology Center opened in an interim facility in Santa Clarita in 2023. The center offers programs in advanced manufacturing, including computer numerical control production. College officials said the programs are designed to help students earn industry-recognized certificates and credentials while preparing for careers in fields such as aerospace, healthcare and clean energy.
Plans call for the center to eventually relocate to a permanent 81,000-square-foot, two-story facility on the college’s Valencia campus.
According to the college, the grant is intended to strengthen workforce development while helping meet the growing demand for skilled workers across Los Angeles County.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation funds programs in education, science, the arts and workforce development, with an emphasis on expanding economic opportunity.