The federal designation allows MARAD to partner with the college on cooperative agreements that bolster student and faculty recruitment, upgrade facilities, give students credit for military service, and possibly receive surplus equipment, the temporary use of MARAD vessels and other assistance.
“The 2021 Federal Maritime Center of Excellence Designation demonstrates that Long Beach City College is leading the way in the high-skills training needed to begin and advance careers right here at the Port of Long Beach,” said LBCC District Board of Trustees’ President Uduak-Joe Ntuk. “For LBCC to achieve this national designation will create new pathways to good pay jobs for our students, while opening more access for diversity and inclusion within the maritime industry.”
The process to receive the designation was a competitive one for LBCC, which is one of 27 learning institutions in the U.S. that gets students ready for maritime careers.
“A big reason we partnered with the excellent team at Long Beach City College on this educational initiative was to invest in the future workforce of the goods movement industry, right here in our city,” said port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We’re very pleased about what this federal designation says about what we’ve accomplished together so far, and the possibilities for the center’s future.”
