Grants Office | Successfully Funded Projects
| Project Name | Applicant | Participating College(s) | Funding Source | Award | Project Period |
| Cybersecurity Cyber Defense and Analysis Center | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [via a Congressional Funding Request] | $1,112,250 | 1 - 5 years |
| Wood Products and Bioenergy Business and Workforce Development Grants - CSUSB Forest Fire & Watershed Workforce Certificate Program - "Scaling Solutions, Building Futures: A Diverse Workforce Initiative for Forest, Fire & Watershed Resilience" | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College |
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) |
$1,000,000 | |
|
| Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College |
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$250,000 | 1 year |
| California Space Grant Consortium | Kern CCD | Porterville College | The Regents of the UC & UC San Diego | $10,000 | 6.5 months |
| one by one - for Step Up to STEM Academy | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | 4imprint | $500 | 1 year |
| 2026 CaliforniansForAll College Corps | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Volunteers, Office of the Governor (GO-Serve) |
$3,269,000 | 3 years |
| FY 2025-26 Rebuilding Nursing Infrastructure Grant - Round 2 | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$1,319,806 | 2 years |
| Credit for Prior Learning Funding (2025-26) | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$50,000 | 2 years |
| Credit for Prior Learning Funding (2025-26) | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College |
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$50,000 | 2 years |
| Credit for Prior Learning Funding (2025-26) | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$50,000 | 2 years |
| Strong Workforce Program (SWP) Regional Consortium Management - Central Valley Mother Lode (CVML) |
Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$1,782,214 | 1 year |
| Employment and Training Pathways Program (ETPP) Grant PY 25-26 - Kern/Inyo/Mono Consortium | Employment Training Consortium (ETR) | California Employment Development Department (EDD) w/the Labor and Workforce Development
Agency (LWDA) (via USDOL funding) |
$1,842,000 | 18 - 24 months |
| Student Support Block Grant Allocations - Kern CCD | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, and Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$1,716,226 | 1 year |
| Program Pathways Mapper: Expanding Pathways Beyond Academia | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) - CA EDD K16 Education Collaborative | $250,000 | 4 years |
| Faculty Diversification Fellowship Program | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) - CA EDD K16 Education Collaborative | $250,000 | 4 years |
| Medical Professionals Program Expansion | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) - CA EDD K16 Education Collaborative | $250,000 | 4 years |
| Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Round 9 [submitted in FY 2024-25] | Kern CCD | BC Arvin Campus | CA Strategic Growth Council (SGC), CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and CA Air Resources Board (CARB) | $945,040 | 2 years |
| South Bay Workforce Investment Board, State Apprenticeship Expansion, Equity and Innovation Grant (SAEEI) Grant | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) | $9,000 | |
| 2025-27 Fire and Forestry Pathways Grant | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) via CAL FIRE |
$300,000 | 3 years |
| Provision of college courses at California Correctional Institute (FAC) with the CCCC (MOU) | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College |
State of California, Department of General Services, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation | 3 years 9 months | |
| Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Fund Allocation for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 | Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$138,888 | 1 year |
| Nursing Enrollment Growth and Retention - Fund: Enrollment Growth and Retention Grant FY 25-26 | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$369,690 | 24 months |
| Nursing Enrollment Growth and Retention - Fund: Enrollment Growth and Retention Grant FY 25-26 | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$65,264 | 24 months |
| Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$131,212 | 1 year |
| Program Pathways Mapper Sustainability Grant (PPM Sustainability) | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) | $60,000 | 3 years |
| Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Innovative Best Practices Grants | Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$150,000 | 2.5 years |
| 2025-26 Industry Driven Regional Collaborative (IDRC) Grant | Kern CCD | CREL, 21st Century Energy Center, Bakersfield College, and Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$408,980 | 27 months |
| Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Allocation | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$320,000 |
| Project Name | Applicant | Participating College(s) | Funding Source | Award | Project Period |
| TRIO Programs - Student Support Services - BC Teacher Preparation |
Bakersfield College | US Department of Education | $1,336,820 (Yr1) | 5 years, 2025-2030 |
| 2025-27 Fire and Forestry Pathways Grant | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) via CalFIRE |
$300,000 | 3 years, 2025-28 |
| Perkins V 2025-26 Title 1-C | Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$1,962,057 | 1 year, 2025-26 |
| Umoja Campus Program | Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$153,248 | 28 months, 2025-27 |
| Umoja Campus Program | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$153,248 | 28 months, 2025-27 |
| Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) “Mini-Grant” |
Cerro Coso Community College | John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) | $10,000 | 6 months, 2025 |
| Sustainable Justice Training Institute / Sustainable Justice Scholars Program |
Kern CCD | CREL | Sustain Our Future Foundation | $50,000 | n/a |
| Cerro Coso Community College - Rebuilding Nursing Infrastructure 1 |
Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$1,250,000 | 2 years, 2025-27 |
| Bakersfield College - Rebuilding Nursing Infrastructure 1 |
Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$1,150,000 | 2 years, 2025-27 |
| Bakersfield College Rising Scholars Network 2025-2028 Application [RSN 2025 Adult RFA] |
Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$768,361 | 3 years, 2025-28 |
| Cerro Coso Community College Rising Scholars Network 2025-2028 Application [RSN 2025 Adult RFA] |
Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$668,769 | 3 years, 2025-28 |
| Porterville College Rising Scholars Network 2025-2028 Application [RSN 2025 Adult RFA] |
Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$520,938 | 3 years, 2025-28 |
| California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) - Additional Allocation (funding is for FY 2025-26) |
Bakersfield College | California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) | $426,950 | 5 years, 2025-2030 |
| Zero Textbook Cost Program - Impact Grant |
Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$200,000 | 21 months, 2025-2027 |
| California Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Program: Licensed Midwifery (LM) Training Program |
Cerro Coso Community College | California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) |
$500,000 | 26 months, 2025-27 |
| Opportunity Young Adult Career Pathway Program Grant for Program Year 2024-25 |
Employers' Training Resources (ETR) | Kern CCD |
CA Employment Development Department (EDD) |
$1,967,000 | 2 years 7 months, 2024-27 |
| City of Bakersfield Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Technical Assistance and Grant Program 2.0 |
The Launchpad | Bakersfield College | City of Bakersfield (federal ARRA funds) | $1,000,000 | 18 months |
| Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program, Title V - Part A, "PASO - Porterville Access, Success Opportunities" |
Porterville College | US Dept. of Education - Title V Part A | $2,998,475 | 5 years, 2024-29 |
| Associate Degree in Nursing/Registered Nurse Programs - Fund: Enrollment Growth and Retention FY 2024-25 (Growth) |
Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$182,400 | 24 months, 2024-26 |
| Associate Degree in Nursing/Registered Nurse Programs - Fund: Enrollment Growth and Retention FY 2024-25 (Growth) |
Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$76,781 | 24 months, 2024-26 |
| Strong Workforce Program Fiscal Year 2024-25 Base Allocation Funding - 2024-25 SWP Local Allocation, Central Valley Mother Lode |
Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$3,488,140 | 2 years, 2024-26 |
| Strong Workforce Program Fiscal Year 2024-25 Base Allocation Funding - 2024-25 SWP Local 17% Incentive Allocation, Central Valley Mother Lode |
Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$531,327 | 2 years, 2024-26 |
| Strong Workforce Program Fiscal Year 2024-25 Base Allocation Funding - 2024-25 SWP Regional Allocation, Central Valley Mother Lode |
Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$9,681,626 | 2 years, 2024-26 |
| California Adult Education Program (CAEP) - 2024-25 Final Allocation |
Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) |
$21,065,061 | $1,621,093 subaward |
1 year, 2024-2025 |
| Project Name | Applicant | Participating College(s) | Funding Source | Award | Project Period |
| Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program - Phase 2: Implementation Grant | Sierra K-16 Collaborative: Workforce Ready, Future Engaged | Cerro Coso Community College | via Yosemite CCD - Columbia College | California Department of General Service (CA DGS), Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) | $571,000 | 2 years 7 months, 2023-2026 |
| Administration of the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Local Competition at Designated Institutions of Higher Education | Bakersfield College | Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration | $30,000 | 1 year, 2024-25 |
| Administration of the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Local Competition at Designated Institutions of Higher Education | Porterville College | Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration | $30,000 | 1 year, 2024-25 |
| Farmworker Institute of Education & Leadership Development (FIELD) | Kern CCD | California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), Operations and Policy Implementation Branch | $8,000,000 | 1 year 10 months, 2022-24 |
| Data-to-Action Campaign for Parenting Students College Community of Practice | Bakersfield College | Urban Institute (ECMC Foundation and the Lumina Foundation) | $60,000 | 2 years, 2023-2025 |
| ECMC Cal-SOAP Grant - Southern San Joaquin Cal-SOAP (Student Opportunity and Access Program) | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) via the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) | $45,000 | 4 months, 2024 |
| California Space Grant Consortium | Porterville College | The Regents of the UC & UC San Diego | $10,000 | 5 months, 2024 |
| Rupe CNA Program Grant 2024-25 | Bakersfield College | Arthur N. Rupe Foundation | $50,000 | 1 year, 2023-24 |
| Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment (HIRE) Initiative | Bakersfield College | CCCCO, Workforce and Economic Development Division, Fund: Workforce Investment Initiatives | $447,096 | 3 years and 3 months, 2023-2027 |
| California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE) - Plumbing Program | Bakersfield College | California Energy Commission (CEC) | $336,155 | 2 years, 2024-26 |
| Innovation and Effectiveness Grant Agreement | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) via the Santa Clarita CCD | $200,000 | 1 year, 2024-25 |
| Workforce Development Program - Pathways to Innovation | Kern CCD | 21st Century Energy Center | City of Bakersfield (federal ARPA funds) | $336,923 | 30 months, 2024-26 |
| Golden State Pathways Program - Child and Adolescent Development ADT Dual Enrollment Pathway | The Wonderful Company | Kern CCD / Bakersfield College (Early College) | California Department of Education (CDE) | $500,000 | 4 years, 2024-28 |
| Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project (APDP) - Round 2 - Community Health (Public Health Infomatics) | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) | $99,000 | 1 year, 2024-25 |
| Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project (APDP) - Round 2 - Automotive Technician | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) | $99,000 | 1 year, 2024-25 |
| Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF): Catalyst | CERF Group | Kern CCD | CA Economic Development Dept (EDD) / CA Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) | $14,000,000 | 29 months, 2024-26 |
| California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) New and Innovative Grant Program Fiscal Year 2023-24 - Bakersfield College Dealership Service Technician - Pre-Apprenticeship - Implementation Grant | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $500,000 | 36 months, 2024-27 |
| California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) New and Innovative Grant Program Fiscal Year 2023-24 - Bakersfield College Nursing Assistant Apprenticeship Program - Planning Grant | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $120,000 | 36 months, 2024-27 |
| Displaced Oil & Gas Worker Fund DOGWF 2023-24 [County served: Kern] | Kern Inyo Mono Consortium Workforce Development Area - Kern County Employers' Training Resource (ETR) | Kern CCD | CA Economic Development Dept (EDD) | $11,244,000 | 3 years, 2024-27 |
| Displaced Oil & Gas Worker Fund DOGWF 2023-24 [Counties served: Contra Costa, Kern, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo] | Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization (SCEO), United Steelworkers Union | Kern CCD | CA Economic Development Dept (EDD) | $9,838,500 | 3 years, 2024-27 |
| English Language Learner (ELL) Healthcare Pathways Grant - Round 2 | Kern Adult Education Consortium | Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $610,802 | 2 years, 2024-26 |
| Expansion of Nursing Program - Healthcare Workforce Expansion Initiative Program 2023-25 | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | Kern Health Systems (KHS) | $300,000 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Distance Education Captioning and Transcription (DECT) Master Grant Agreement | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, and Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | TBD | 5 years, 2023-28 |
| Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project (Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Information Technology) - Round 1 | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $200,000 |
2 years, 2023-25 |
| Central California Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) | Kern CCD | 21st Century Energy Center | US Dept. of Energy (DOE) - Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) Program - IACs at Trade Schools, Community Colleges, and Union Training Programs | $1,469,901 | 3 years, 2024-27 |
| Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CCG) - Track I - City of Bakersfield, Southeast Strong Initiative | City of Bakersfield | Kern CCD | US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) | $817,618 (subaward) |
3 years, 2024-2027 |
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs | California Resources Corporation (CRC) | Kern CCD / CREL | US Dept. of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) | $875,000 (subaward) |
3 years, 2023-26 |
| Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program - Round 1 - Project Development (Shafter Youth Center) - "Empowering Our Community: Collaborative Research for Resilience" | Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) | California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) | $988,752 (no subaward) |
2 years, 2023-25 |
| English Language Learner (ELL) Healthcare Pathways Grant - Round 1 | Kern Adult Education Consortium | Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $610,802 | 2 years, 2024-26 |
| Umoja Campus Grant | Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $150,000 | 3 years, 2021-24 |
| Transformative Climate Communities (TCC), “Southeast Strong” | City of Bakersfield | Kern CCD / 21st Energy Center | California Strategic Growth Council (CA SGC) | $1,800,000 (subaward) |
2 years, 2024-26 |
| Industrial Decarbonization and Emissions Reduction Demonstration-to-Deployment | National Cement Company (NCC) of California | Kern CCD | US Department of Energy (DOE) | $11,839,094 (subaward) |
8 years, 2023-31 |
| Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | US Department of Education | $2,932,379 | 4 years, 2023-27 |
| High Road Construction Careers (HRCC) Partnerships Grants | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $447,096 | 25 months, 2023-27 |
| 2023-24 Strong Workforce Program (SWP) - Regional Base Allocation (Round 8) | Kern CCD | Central Valley Motherlode Region | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $4,132,082 (KernCCD) - $11,965,718 (CVML Region) | |
| 2023-24 Strong Workforce Program (SWP) - Regional 17% Incentive Allocation (Round 8) | Kern CCD | Central Valley Motherlode Region | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $2,157,363 (CVML) | |
| Strong Workforce Program (SWP) - Base Local Allocation | Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $4,302,306 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Strong Workforce Program (SWP) - 17% Incentive Allocation | Kern CCD | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $730,720 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Project Name | Applicant | Participating College(s) | Funding Source | Award | Project Period |
| Associate Degree in Nursing/Registered Nurse programs - Two-Year Nursing Grants: Retention and Growth (Growth Category) | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $182,400 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Associate Degree in Nursing/Registered Nurse programs - Two-Year Nursing Grants: Retention and Growth (Attrition Category) | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $90,330 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| 23-24 California Low-Cost Auto Insurance Outreach Grant | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | Foundation for CA Community Colleges (FCCC) and CA Low-Cost Auto Insurance (CLCA) | $2,000 | 7 months, 2023-24 |
| California Medical Scholars Program | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Medical Scholars Program | $50,000 | 1 year, 2023-24 |
| Native American Student Support and Success Program | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $600,000 (Yr1) | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| Cal LAW | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $99,000 | 18 months, 2023-25 |
| High Road to SEIU CDCR Correctional Health Professions | Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 | Kern CCD / Bakersfield College | California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) | $479,352 subaward | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Healthcare Workforce Advancement Fund | Kern CCD | Workforce and Economic Development - Contract Education | California Employment Training Panel (ETP) | $1,000,000 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Worker Literacy Pilot | Kern CCD | Workforce and Economic Development - Contract Education | California Employment Training Panel (ETP) | $600,000 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| ETP Core Program | Kern CCD | Workforce and Economic Development - Contract Education | California Employment Training Panel (ETP) | $600,000 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Institutional Transformation for Community College Men of Color Success | USC Race and Equity Center | Kern CCD / Bakersfield College | ECMC Foundation | $75,000 subaward | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| English Language Learner Integrated Education and Training Fund Program Year 2022-23 | Get Focused, Stay Focused | Kern CCD / Bakersfield College and Porterville College | California Labor and Workforce Development Agency | $2,492,857 | ~4 years, 2023-27 |
| Out of School Youth SOAR Reapplication | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Economic Development Department (EDD, Kern Inyo Mono Workforce Development Board (KIM-WDB) | $500,000 | 1 year, 2023-24 |
| Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Technical Assistance and Grant Program | Kern CCD | Launchpad / Bakersfield College | City of Bakersfield (via federal American Rescue Plan Act funds) | $350,439 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) - Public Health Informatics - Planning Grant | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $119,547 | 1 year, 2023-24 |
| California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) - Bakersfield College LVN to RN | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $1,124,790 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) - Bakersfield College Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing - Planning Grant | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $108,368 | 1 year, 2023-24 |
| California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) - Bakersfield College Maintenance Technician | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $1,499,945 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) - Bakersfield College, CA DGS, and SEIU Local 1000 Custodial to Office Admin. Apprenticeship Program | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $553,276 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| Advancing Equity through Workforce Partnerships - Solar Homes & Careers for Justice 40 Communities | Kern CCD | 21st Century Energy Center | US Department of Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) | $1,000,000 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| FY 22 Vehicle Technologies: AOI#11: South San Joaquin Valley Zero Emissions Vehicle Talent Pipeline | Kern CCD | 21st Century Energy Center | US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) | $847,404 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| Open Textbooks Pilot (OTP) Program, "Pathways Of Possibilities for Transforming Higher Education Curriculum Alignment Program (POP THE CAP)" | CSU Bakersfield | Kern CCD / Porterville College | US Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) | $150,000 subaward | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| H2Hub - Nationwide Network of Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs | Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) | Kern CCD / 21st Energy Center | US Department of Energy | $5,000,000 subaward | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) - Acceleration Program (Social Work and Human Services) | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $176,000 | |
| Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) - Acceleration Program (Music and History) | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $200,000 | |
| Guided Pathways Grant Program | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $2,437,697 | 4 years, 2022-26 |
| Guided Pathways Grant Program | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $567,020 | 4 years, 2022-26 |
| Guided Pathways Grant Program | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $677,649 | 4 years, 2022-26 |
| Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Hispanic Serving Institutions (IUSE-HSI) - "Beyond Access: Leveraging Mobile-Friendly Design to Support STEM Student Success" | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | National Science Foundation (NSF) | $400,000 | 2 years, 2023-25 |
| Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program - Planning | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College | California Department of Finance | $314,000 | 2 years, 2022-24 |
| Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program - Planning | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Department of Finance | $314,000 | 2 years, 2022-24 |
| Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program - Construction Grant | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Department of Finance | $60,245,000 | 2 years, 2022-24 |
| High Road Training Partnerships (HRTP) Resilient Workforce Fund (RWF) - "Connecting Under-Represented Workers to High Road Jobs" | Kern CCD | 21st Century Energy Center | California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) | $2,493,267 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| Perkins V Reserve Innovations Grant - Career Choices + Adult Ed | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $300,000 | |
| Regional Equity & Recovery Partnerships - Allied Health | Kern CCD | San Joaquin Valley & AC Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) | $390,426 | |
| Title V Grant - Early College | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | US Department of Education | $3,000,000 | 5 years, 2022-27 |
| Rising Scholars Network 2.0 | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $480,000 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| Rising Scholars Network 2.0 | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $382,500 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program - Phase 1 - Central San Joaquin Valley K16 Partnership | Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office | Kern CCD | Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) & the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) | $18,130,000 | 3 years, 2023-26 |
| California Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) - Phase 1 Planning Grant | Kern CCD | California Economic Development Department (EDD) | $5,000,000 | 2 years. 2022-24 |
| Umoja Campus Grant | Kern CCD | Cerro Coso Community College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $150,000 | 3 years, 2021-24 |
| Umoja Campus Grant | Kern CCD | Porterville College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $158,904 | 3 years, 2021-24 |
| Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) | Kern CCD | Bakersfield College | California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) | $1,873,216 | 7 years, 2020-27 |
Under construction.
Under construction.
Externally Funded Centers (some with individual webpages)
The 21st Century Energy Center (CEC), part of the Kern Community College District (KCCD), offers comprehensive workforce training programs tailored to the growing renewable energy sector. These programs are designed to equip individuals with essential skills and certifications, enhancing their employability in clean energy industries.
Our Customized and Corporate Training Team partners with businesses and organizations to deliver high-impact, results-driven training solutions that address real-world workforce needs. Whether you’re upskilling your current employees, onboarding new talent, or adapting to new technologies and industry standards, we offer flexible training programs that align with your goals.
Collaborative Initiatives:
The 21st Century Energy Center actively engages in partnerships to further enhance workforce development in renewable energy:
Transformative Climate Communities Initiative: In collaboration with City of Bakersfield and organizations such as Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), Building Healthy
Communities, GBLA and GRID Alternatives, the 21ST Century Energy Center provides workforce
training such as solar installation training and This initiative is part of a broader
effort to create new job opportunities while advancing clean energy solutions in underserved
communities.
Kern High Road Coalition: As part of the California Workforce Development Board's High Road Training Partnership, the center contributes to building a resilient workforce in Kern County. This collaboration focuses on addressing income inequality, economic competitiveness, and climate change through regional skill development strategies
Through these comprehensive training programs and supportive services, the 21st Century Energy Center plays a pivotal role in preparing individuals for successful careers in the evolving renewable energy sector.
Launched in 2022 as a $50 million state-funded initiative, the California Renewable Energy Laboratory (CREL) builds on a decade of Kern County innovation to accelerate California’s clean energy future. Through applied, hands-on training, faculty and curriculum development, industry partnerships, and community engagement, CREL connects community colleges with researchers, employers, and public agencies to catalyze innovation, expand economic opportunity, and strengthen climate resilience statewide.
The California Renewable Energy Laboratory (CREL) is based at the Kern Community College District (Kern CCD), serving as a pivotal hub that connects industry, local and national governmental agencies, and workers with the most up-to-date information and approaches regarding innovations that will shape the regional and statewide energy economy for decades to come.
CREL is dedicated to supporting the state’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. To this end, CREL has established four Centers of Excellence that are tailored to the needs and interests of California community colleges, industry and government partners and community members across the state. The focus is on clean energy, climate and resiliency, including best practices, curriculum support, experiential learning, research, technology demonstration projects, and strengthening partnerships.
CREL Centers of Excellence
Clean Energy and Grid Resilience - CREL is advancing Clean Energy and Grid Resilience through microgrid demonstration projects, agrivoltaics & regenerative farming, and cybersecurity for energy systems.
Advanced Transportation - CREL aims to be a leader in education and workforce training in electric vehicles, operations, and alternative fuels alongside our industry partners.
High Performance Buildings - CREL brings student education, training, and community outreach opportunities in energy efficient and sustainable building design.
CRC Carbon Management Institute - CREL is establishing a hub dedicated to carbon management education, workforce development, and community engagement.
The Kern Community College District's IAC, lead by the 21st Century Energy Center (21CEC), establishes a Central California IAC to conduct energy assessments, foster regional partnerships, and provide workforce development opportunities for community college students and union workers in fields such as industrial automation and heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC). The project will contribute to America’s manufacturing and clean energy competitiveness in a high-unemployment, highly agricultural, oil-and-gas-transitioning, and largely underserved part of California with a diverse population of over seven million people.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) provide hands-on job training for clean energy careers while helping industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities save energy, improve performance, and reduce emissions. These programs, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, help small businesses save money and expand opportunities for disadvantaged communities to save energy and pursue high-quality clean energy careers. (The November 2023 awardees are published here.)
For more information, please contact the staff at the 21CEC.