Press Release September 5, 2006

San José, CA — The San José/Evergreen Community College District is pleased to announce that the Institute for Business Performance has been awarded a $206,977 grant though the State Chancellor’s Office to provide the regional leadership for the Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLA) Demonstration Project for the Silicon Valley.

An important initiative adopted by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), LiLAs are voluntary employer-matched, portable individual savings accounts used to finance education and training. With LiLAs, workers can upgrade their skills and knowledge to meet the needs of business and industry while achieving their career goals, and are intended to supplement existing employer-supported tuition assistance programs.

The project is designed to create a collaborative that will meet the education and training needs of employees while they are employed. The focus of the collaborative is on continuous learning and skills development so that an employee remains more marketable, reduces their chances for becoming unemployed, and takes control of their own career development. CAEL has successfully developed and implemented LiLA accounts at several worksites in the United States, and will partner with IBP and the local workforce development system—work2future—on this demonstration project

“The IBP is very excited to be part of this demonstration project,” says Carol Coen, Executive Director for the Institute for Business Performance. “LiLAs will assist our skilled workforce finance their education to acquire higher skills and earn postsecondary credential or degrees that will help ensure their place in today’s rapidly-changing workplace. This demonstration project will help create systemic change in the way individuals are able to invest in their own future, and also encourage employer investment and involvement.”

“I believe this opportunity to work with CAEL, which is already collaborating with employers in Maine, Illinois, Missouri and San Francisco, to create a model program for the Silicon Valley, will greatly benefit our community,” says Rosa Pérez, Chancellor, San José/Evergreen Community College District. “LiLAs will help our workforce maintain necessary job skills, upgrade their careers, and help meet the changing needs of business and industry.”

“This demonstration project provides a meaningful way to integrate the efforts of educational institutions with the local workforce investment system, bring business partnerships to the table, and generate funding sources needed to ensure workforce skills remain current,” says Jeff Ruster, Executive Director, work2future.

About the Institute for Business Performance
The Institute for Business Performance, located on the San José City College campus at the corner of Moorpark and Bascom in the Technology Center building, has been providing custom contract education for the Silicon Valley since 1988. The Institute provides customized employee development training for area businesses and skills upgrade training for individuals wanting career advancement.

Contact: Rosa Pérez, Chancellor
San José/Evergreen Community College District
Phone: 408-270-6402
Fax: 408-531-8722
E-mail: rosa.perez@sjeccd.org

Contact: Carol Coen, Executive Director
Institute for Business Performance
Phone: 408-283-3619
Fax: 408-282-0811
E-mail: carol.coen@sjeccd.org