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Congressman Panetta Announces $7 Million in TRIO Grants for Central Coast Colleges

August 14, 2020

SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced $7,157,290.00 in federal grant funding through the Student Support Services (SSS) Program for California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), Hartnell College, and Monterey Peninsula College (MPC).

The Student Support Services Program is one of eight U.S. Department of Education's Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO). The SSS Program is designed to provide academic and other support services to low-income, first-generation or disabled college students to increase students' retention and graduation rates, facilitate their transfer from two-year to four-year colleges, and foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of low-income and first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities.

"As someone who attended one of our local colleges, I am proud and glad to have worked to secure such federal funding for our colleges and their programs to assist students in need," said Congressman Panetta. "These grants for TRIO will help those students fulfill their and their families' dreams by obtaining the educational foundation upon which they'll be able to do anything they want."

California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) received a Student Support Services (SSS) Program grant. This grant will be in the amount of $294,725.00 for the first budget period (09/01/2020 through 08/31/2021). It is anticipated that the grant will be for a total of 5 year(s), totaling $1,473,625.00.

California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) also received a Student Support Services-Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics (SSS-STEM) Program grant. The TRIO SSS-STEM program is designed to improve retention, graduation, financial literacy, and overall academic success rates for students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math fields. This grant will be in the amount of $261,888.00 for the first budget period (09/01/2020 through 08/31/2021). It is anticipated that the grant will be for a total of 5 year(s), totaling $1,309,440.00.

Hartnell College received a Student Support Services (SSS) Program grant. This grant will be in the amount of $261,888.00 for the first budget period (09/01/2020 through 08/31/2021). It is anticipated that the grant will be for a total of 5 year(s), totaling $1,309,440.00.

Hartnell College also received a TRIO Student Support Services-English as a Second Language (SSS-ESL) Program grant. The TRIO SSS-ESL program is designed to help eligible students earn a certificate or associate's degree and transfer to a four-year university to earn a bachelor's degree. This grant will be in the amount of $261,888.00 for the first budget period (09/01/2020 through 08/31/2021). It is anticipated that the grant will be for a total of 5 year(s), totaling $1,309,440.00.

Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) received a Student Support Services (SSS) Program grant. This grant will be in the amount of $351,069.00 for the first budget period (09/01/2020 through 08/31/2021). It is anticipated that the grant will be for a total of 5 year(s), totaling $1,755,345.00.

Congressman Panetta is a member of the House TRIO Caucus, where he advocates for the Federal TRIO Programs and higher education access for low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.