IVC receives one-million-dollar grant to build new correctional academy

24 local college students will start preparing for a career in corrections next year, thanks to a $1 million federal grant.

Superintendent/President Martha Garcia said, “We know that government, being law enforcement one of the highest employers in this community, we’re preparing employees in public safety.”

The plan is to build a new correctional academy using state-of-the art training equipment and with statewide certification for work.

56 th California District Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia said, “These grant dollars of one million coming to Imperial County will help address the issue of employment opportunities.”

Some IVC students are already lining up to apply to the new academy.

“I’m really interested in that career path and I already tried to apply at riverside county, and I think having it here in the valley, a correctional officer academy, will be a great opportunity for the valley,” Jose Angel Delgadillo said.

“It seems like a good path in law enforcement. It runs in the family,” Victor Perez said.

Garcia said the program will be preparing officers today for tomorrow’s opportunities.

“What we’re doing is we’re actually back filling those jobs of individuals who will be retiring, those who change careers at some point and here at the community college, we’ll be funneling providing a pathway for our own students to take on these jobs. They’re good paying jobs. They’re jobs that are much needed,” Garcia said.

The grant will also make it possible for the medical assistant program to certify students in half the time it currently takes to do it.