Salinas — Hartnell University has received a $9.5 million grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s inaugural NEXTGEN program.

The official announcement was made at a presentation by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington DC on June 20.

“This is the largest grant in the history of the university,” said Michele Peregrin, director of grant development and innovation at Hartnell University. “Thanks to our knowledgeable and dedicated team, we have submitted thoughtful and comprehensive suggestions for directly addressing student support.”

Titled “Learning Leadership at Hartnell University: Career Paths to Help Produce Greener U.S. Greens,” the project is being conducted in partnership with Imperial Valley College, California State University-Monterey Bay, and the University of Arizona, Yuma. be done.

Partner institutions are interconnected through deep educational, economic, agribusiness and cultural ties. The Salinas Valley and Imperial Valley Yuma regions have reciprocal farming seasons, providing a year-round supply of leafy greens and freshly cut vegetables to the United States and abroad.

“Our school is proud to be the only community college designated Hispanic Service Institute (HSI) to be awarded as a Leader in the NEXTGEN Joint Grant,” said Shannon Bliss, program director and principal investigator at Hartnell University. I am honored,” he said.

The project aims to promote equity in high-skill agricultural occupations for educationally disadvantaged low-income and Latino populations. The four institutions will focus on building and retaining the future food and agricultural science workforce.

The grant project expands existing student support and career development programs for students pursuing four agricultural degrees/transfer courses: Agricultural Management, Agricultural Food Safety, Agricultural Plant Sciences, and Industrial Automation/Mechatronics.

“This NEXTGEN grant puts us in a strategic position to shape future generations of farmers and scientists in the Salinas Valley and Imperial/Yuma region,” said Hartnell University Dean of Academic Affairs. Clint Cowden said. “Our goal is not just to improve agricultural productivity, but also to make our country’s year-round supply of leafy greens safer.”

To streamline the student journey, programs at all four institutions have adopted a guided pathway approach, eliminating unnecessary classes and speeding up transfer and degree time to help students reach their education. Ensure that you receive clear information on how to start your journey.

The initiative is also designed to bridge the gap between high school/adult school and four-year college degrees through flexible entry and exit options, helping students avoid long-term educational and career obstacles. We help you overcome it and provide comprehensive support for individuals returning to work.

“The power of a well-rounded education combined with hands-on experience and a thriving field of employment is unmatched,” said Bliss. “The NEXTGEN grant will enable our students to pave a clear path towards a rewarding agricultural career and build a strong talent pipeline to sustain the vital role of the region in agricultural production in the country.” can.”

Hartnell’s NEXTGEN grant enrolls over 850 eligible students over the five years of the grant and increases completion rates by 10% for qualifications including certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. More than half of the grant will be donated directly to students as internship scholarships and scholarships.

The goal of this project is USDA’s NEXTGEN (From Learning to Teaching: The Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Specialties) to engage, recruit, retain, train, and support students to help build and sustain the next generation of food. home development) is aligned with the main goal of the program. and the agricultural workforce, including the future USDA workforce.

This includes supporting student scholarships, providing meaningful and paid internships, matching employment opportunities, and facilitating opportunities through extensive outreach and engagement that facilitate processes and pathways leading to training and employment in industry and the USDA. We accomplish this by supporting the priorities of the USDA program.

Hartnell University and three funding partners have established accredited Hispanic service institutions ( HSI). An agricultural area of ​​Yuma County.

The Salinas and Imperial Valleys are two of California’s top 10 agricultural producing counties and lead the nation in agricultural production. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Monterey County (which includes the Salinas Valley) ranks fourth with $4.4 billion in agricultural production, while Imperial County (which includes the Imperial Valley) ranks ninth with $2.1 billion.