A $300,000 Fire and Forestry Pathway grant was awarded to Yuba College, allowing the regionโs workforce in wildland fire response and forest management to strengthen, college officials said. The grant was awarded in June 2025 and will continue its funding till June 2028. The aim is to support the expansion of the collegeโs Career Technical Education programs while increasing enrollment in basic wildland fire training, watershed courses, and the Forest Management Resilience Certificate program, college officials said.
โThis grant is a significant investment in our students and our community,โ saidย Yubaย College Dean of Career Technical Education and Workforce Development, Dr. W. Alan Dixon, Sr. โBy expanding our fire and forestry programs, weโre not only helping students build meaningful careers, but also contributing to the safety and sustainability of our regionโs natural resources.โ With the use of the grant, Yuba College officials said that new courses will teach fire behavior, suppression tactics, forest ecology, fuels management, and climate resilience, while also expressing the need for professionals in those areas.
“The courses will complement existing curriculum and provide hands-on, industry-relevant training designed to prepare students for immediate employment in high-demand fields,” college officials said. “The initiative will also support outreach efforts aimed at attracting new students, especially those from underrepresented populations, while funding instructional equipment, materials, and faculty development.” Additionally, regional partnerships between Yuba College and other colleges, employers, Cal Fire, and more can be created or expanded upon to help build comprehensive workforce training pathways while increasing the number of learners in fire and forestry careers, officials said.
