Chaffey College Center Awarded $500,000 for Mechatronics Program

The California Apprenticeship Initiative has recently awarded the Chaffey College Industrial Technical Learning Center located in Fontana a $500,000 grant for the purposes of training participants to become mechatronics technicians. The grant will go towards supporting Chaffey’s Automation, Robotics, and Mechatronics Pre-Apprenticeship Program where students will be provided training for their respective industries.

“We are very proud of our track record in training students for in-demand jobs in the Inland Empire. The ARM Pre-Apprenticeship is another example of how we collaborate with employers to develop a high-performance workforce that helps build a strong regional economy,”

Sandra Sisco, Director of Economic Development at InTech Center.

When creating the program InTech partnered with the Inland Desert Employers Apprenticeship (IDEA) Committee in order to best help their participants. The program will help students attain entry-level mechatronics technician jobs, continue their training by entering the registered mechatronics apprenticeship program that provides graduates with both state and federal journey-level certification as well as helping to support them through applications processes to the mechatronics associate’s degree program.

Funds will support training for around 100 pre-apprenticeship students, build and foster connections with employers to make recruiting easier, marketing for the program, as well as industry-recognized certifications. Apprentices will also have the chance to enhance their skills if they’re currently employed in manufacturing, distribution, and other industries that utilized advanced industrial technologies. For current Mechatronics workers in the industry, the median wage is about $28.75 an hour or $59,800 annually. Students can learn more by registering for an online information session.