FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2008

SDCCD Awarded $86,000 Wal-Mart Foundation Economic Opportunity Initiative Grant

The San Diego Community College District is one of only 20 colleges and technical schools nationwide selected by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to participate in the Wal-Mart Workforce and Economic Opportunity Initiative.

Each college will receive an $86,000 grant to partner with its local workforce development community to improve the community’s economic prosperity and help people live better. The award recipients were announced this week in Washington, D.C., following completion of a highly competitive application and evaluation process.

Dr. Constance Carroll, SDCCD chancellor, stated, "This initiative will strengthen the San Diego Community College District’s efforts to develop new career training opportunities in Green Technology, a growing sector in the region’s economy."

In anticipation of the increasingly growing need for skilled Green Technology workers, Chancellor Carroll said that SDCCD’s City, Mesa and Miramar colleges, as well as Continuing Education, have made great strides to infuse current workforce training programs with content related to Sustainability and Green Technology. For example, students are:

• Exposed to increased emphasis on solar technology within manufacturing programs.
• Exploring the concept of clean alternative fuel vehicles in advanced transportation programs.
• Examining ways of incorporating energy saving designs into building plans within architecture programs.

AACC President George R. Boggs expressed particular appreciation for Wal-Mart’s vision in launching an initiative that targets many isolated, rural communities. When operational, programs will serve as models for the more than 800 rural institutions comprising two-thirds of AACC’s close to 1,200-college membership.

"We congratulate these colleges and look forward to the initiative’s impact to revitalize communities and regions," Boggs said. "With Wal-Mart’s support, this network of pilot projects will provide innovative and sustainable partnerships that expand the capacity of community colleges to spur economic growth."

"Wal-Mart is proud to support programs that strengthen communities and provide opportunities so that people can live better," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "Wal-Mart’s partnership with AACC identifies institutions committed to enhancing the economic development of local communities by encouraging local businesses, higher education and community organizations to work together to improve their community’s level of competition; especially in the current economy."

The Wal-Mart Workforce and Economic Opportunity Initiative is administered by AACC’s Center for Workforce and Economic Development. The Center will provide technical assistance and support through a partnership with the National Center on Education and the Economy www.ncee.org.

For more information about the Wal-Mart Workforce and Economic Opportunity Initiative and the programs of the 20 winners, visit the AACC Web site at www.aacc.nche.edu.

About the San Diego Community College District
The SDCCD serves more than 50,000 students at three San Diego colleges: City College, Mesa College and Miramar College. An additional 50,000 students enroll in classes at our six San Diego Continuing Education (CE) campuses and 200 community facilities. Local residents enroll in more than 16,600 classes offered by the District throughout San Diego. The District also provides education and training to over 50,000 members of the U.S. military stationed throughout the nation.

About the American Association of Community Colleges
Located in Washington, D.C., the AACC represents the nation’s community, junior and technical colleges. Community colleges are the largest and fastest growing sector of higher education and enroll almost half (46 percent) of all U.S. undergraduates. For more information, visit www.aacc.nche.edu.

About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.