$5.5M in American Rescue Plan funds allocated to CSU San Marcos

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors last week appropriated $5.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for a range of education programs at the Temecula Valley Campus of California State University San Marcos.

The aim of the funding is to increase educational opportunities leading to enhanced economic stability in Southwest Riverside County, according to a county statement following the July 12 unanimous vote.

The ARPA funds will expand educational programs in nursing, hospitality, early childhood education, software engineering and business management, according to the county. Several of these fields experienced staffing declines during the pandemic, especially the nursing, tourism and early childhood education sectors. Officials hope this funding will reinvigorate the local workforce with a focus on skilled workforce staffing and also support degree attainment within the community.

“By partnering with CSUSM, we are ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for County residents,” 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington, who led the effort to secure the funding, said in a statement. “Investing in higher education is crucial for the future of our community. I encourage those interested in pursuing higher education to consider Riverside County as a place to grow their careers and contribute to our vibrant region.”

Addressing the statewide nursing shortage, the funding will provide CSUSM’s nursing programs with upgraded technology and equipment. In collaboration with Mt. San Jacinto College, ARPA-funded early childhood development programs aim to help meet the demand for early childhood educators, and the introduction of an accelerated bachelor’s degree program in software engineering teams CSU San Marcos with local high schools and Mt. San Jacinto College to get students ready to meet the fast-growing demand for technology professionals.

County officials said bolstering programs in business administration and hospitality management will help facilitate a robust travel, tourism and healthcare industry.

“I’m so grateful to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Chuck Washington, the city of Temecula and Mt. San Jacinto College for this partnership in support of CSUSM’s Temecula Valley campus,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said in a statement. “As a leader in social mobility, CSUSM is proud to have more than 20% of our students from Southwest Riverside County with 8 out of 10 graduates staying in the region. This expansion builds a critical workforce to serve the community’s needs.”

ARPA funding is one-time federal aid to accelerate recovery from the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These one-time grants have been used to enhance infrastructure and create economic growth.

More information on how county spends ARPA funds is available at https://rivco.org/american-rescue-plan-act#2392643287-3319311784.