As we approach the November 5th election, it’s important for all of us to consider what makes our community thrive and our nation remain strong. To that end, as your Congressman I have been a longstanding supporter of the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) and now, Measure G, a local educational facilities bond on the November 5th ballot.
Measure G is a strategic investment that deserves our support.
Let’s start with the fact that our local community colleges – Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College – exist for one purpose: to provide a high quality college education with a specific focus on job training and workforce development in an increasingly technical, global economy. Keeping pace with changing economic and workforce demands is essential to keeping America strong. Indeed, the most successful companies and economies – be they local or global – depend on a well trained workforce in order to thrive.
This is what makes Measure G so vitally important. The goal of Measure G is to modernize Rancho Santiago classrooms, upgrade technology and aging infrastructure, and expand vocational and career education spaces. Why does that matter? Because today’s community colleges are where much of our workforce (and future workforce) is trained – including the Orange County firefighters and nurses who respond to our 911 calls, technicians who fix our electronically advanced vehicles, construction workers who build our homes, office buildings, roads and highways, financial and tech professionals, entrepreneurs and others. A well-educated workforce is vital to attracting businesses and fostering economic growth.
In fact, our community colleges are a vital part of the economic engine that drives our economy here in Orange County. Supporting Measure G will help fuel that engine, leading to more jobs and higher earning potential as graduates leave our community colleges and find good-paying, high-demand jobs that help keep America strong on the global stage as they also help boost our local economy here at home. In the short run, Measure G will create thousands of construction jobs as RSCCD facilities are upgraded and improved. In the long run, with better college facilities and technology, a locally trained and skilled workforce will attract new businesses, fostering greater economic development and increasing the investment in leading Orange County industries like defense technology, healthcare, construction, financial services and more.
In particular, Measure G addresses the urgent need for updated facilities that support innovation and job training in emerging fields. As we continue to navigate rapid technological advancements, it is critically important that our educational institutions keep pace. By investing in state-of-the-art classrooms, labs and job-training facilities, we can better prepare our students for the demands of the modern workforce. A strong community college system can be a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship that reaches far and wide.
With the right educational tools and resources, our students will also be better prepared to join the workforce or start their own businesses, creating an even more vibrant economic landscape. When students receive a quality education they are more likely to become part of a thriving, workforce that contributes to a strong America, worthy of envy and respect from around the world. The ripple effect of this investment will be felt not just by students, but by businesses, industries and entire economies that rely on a skilled American workforce in order to thrive.
For these important reasons, Measure G gives us the chance to prioritize education and economic strength, ensuring that those entering or reentering today’s workforce get the training they need to succeed while also helping to keep America and our economy strong. Let’s come together and make this strategic investment in education and our Orange County workforce.
VOTE YES on Measure G for Rancho Santiago Community College District.
Ad paid for by Committee for Rancho Santiago Colleges – Yes on G 2024. Ad Committee’s Top Funder: Santa Ana College Foundation, Santiago Canyon College Foundation, Schools First Federal Credit Union.
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