News Release

CONTACT: Sol Kempinski, Gafcon outreach coordinator, (619) 231-6100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           May 21, 2003

College district urging local
businesses to take part in Prop. R construction projects

GCCCD board launches contractor outreach program

EL CAJON – Local participation is the message driving the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s new contractor outreach program geared to help East County businesses benefit from Proposition R-related construction work.

Proposition R, GCCCD’s $207 million facilities bond measure, was strongly embraced by East County voters last fall to fund the repair and renovation of aging facilities and to build new classrooms and labs at Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges. The campuses, which have been bursting at the seams from ever-escalating enrollment, will soon embark on a wave of new construction with the sale of the first series of bonds.

Among the first of the numerous Prop. R-funded projects are renovations such as the reroofing of aging buildings in the 200 complex at Grossmont College. Other projects – some funded by a combination of Prop. R proceeds and state bond funds – include a new science building, a digital arts/sculpture building, health sciences building and a student services complex at Grossmont College, and at Cuyamaca College, a science and technology center, a communications instructional lab building, a business and computer information systems building and a student center.

“This district wants to facilitate the participation of qualified local businesses in Prop. R projects,” GCCCD Governing Board President Tim Caruthers said at this week’s board meeting, where the outreach program was kicked off. “We want to make sure that East County contractors, subcontractors, vendors and service providers are aware of the opportunities presented by Prop. R projects. The bottom line is, let’s provide local jobs while building our campuses.”

The outreach effort will include seminars, workshops, a speakers’ bureau, informative publications and a Web site.

In addition to information on many projects, the workshops and seminars will offer pre-qualification assistance by industry experts in the areas of certification, bonding, bidding, insurance and other construction regulations. The first seminar is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26, at the El Cajon Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Ave.

For further information about the free workshop and the outreach program, call outreach coordinator Sol Kempinski -- (619) 231-6100 at Gafcon, a construction consulting firm and the college district’s program manager of Prop. R construction.

“It’s our hope that local business can use the information they obtain at these seminars to expand job opportunities in East County,” said Chancellor Omero Suarez. “The district is committed to local participation as we gear up for this massive effort to expand and improve campus facilities.”

For more about the outreach program, go to www.gcccd.net/purchasing/contractor.outreach.program.asp.

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Intergovernmental Relations, Economic Development, and Public Information
8800 Grossmont College Drive  El Cajon, CA 92020-1799
Phone 619-644-7573 Fax 619-644-7924