Ask any business executive to name the key to success in today’s economy and you’ll hear time and again that it’s the quality of the workforce. Yet, surveys consistently reveal that corporate America’s number one concern is a qualified labor pool trained to keep up with changing workplace demands. The Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) is dedicated to bridging the gap between market needs and workforce abilities. The college specializes in preparing students with the workplace and technical skills they need for employability, job retention and career enhancement. Committed to the Long Beach region’s economic growth and its global competitiveness, LBCCD administers multiple economic development grants and workforce participation projects from a variety of government funding sources to enhance Long Beach City College’s (LBCC) programs and services.

The grants are dedicated to business expansion in five core industry clusters—small business development, international trade, information technologies, transportation and healthcare. They enable the College to enhance its full complement of services, including assessment, technical education, training in workplace skills, internships, apprenticeships, and customized training to meet business-specific needs. Understanding that a strong partnership must exist between education and industry, LBCCD collaborates with local businesses through industry advisory councils composed of business executives and representatives, college administrators and faculty experts. This collaboration ensures that LBCCD’s curricula meets and exceeds industry standards.

With an enrollment of nearly 28,000 students, LBCC is among the largest of California’s 108 community colleges and twice has been named one of the most effective community colleges in the nation. LBCC provides education and training in 42 career and technical education programs, in addition to offering associate of arts degrees in 97 subject areas. The College’s fully certified faculty is committed to providing the level of education needed by students to successfully advance to four-year institutions or directly into the job market.