Policy A-4

Enhance the County’s Present Educational and Job Training Resources.
Advances in technology have resulted in the creation of new industries. These industries include specialized fields of bio-science and telecommunications. Information services and the rapidly growing telecommunications systems have permitted a modern workforce to work in decentralized facilities linked to other facilities around the world. The modern work force must be relatively sophisticated with the use of modern technology. This is particularly important in a rural region, like Mariposa, where higher paying employment opportunities are associated with businesses and industries located in metropolitan areas.

Young people entering the labor force must also develop and maintain skills in the use of modern telecommunications technology to access the better paying jobs. Due to the pace at which technology has been, and will continue to advance, education and job training systems are being redefined. Education is becoming a formal life-long process. Younger students are being introduced to modern business and technological concepts at an earlier age and more mature students are finding it necessary to constantly upgrade or refresh their skills.

The remoteness of the Mariposa region creates disadvantages to providing sophisticated life-long learning resources. However, strategies can be implemented which will improve our abilities to train young people to be part of a modern labor force and to upgrade the skills and knowledge of our present work force.

Quantifiable Objective:
By the Year 2000, the Mariposa County EDC’s objective is to:
Establish a Mariposa County Life-Long Learning program which provides instructional assistance to a minimum of 500 students, workers, employers and general members of the community per year.

Implementing Programs & Actions
A-4a In cooperation with the California college and university system, establish a program for professional education seminars in Mariposa.
The Mariposa County EDC can jointly sponsor periodic conferences, workshops and seminars to be held in Mariposa and open to interested people throughout the state or nation. Making these educational opportunities accessible to a broader base of people, the community can attract higher quality educators presenting advanced information of subject-relevant matters.

A-4b Provide Mariposa County young people with opportunities to learn modern business techniques and apply modern business technology in a real life setting.
In cooperation with the Mariposa County Schools system and the Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce, the Mariposa County EDC can help establish a Young Business Person (Junior Achievement) program in Mariposa County. This program could be coupled with venture capital seed money program which utilizes the “Micro Enterprise” banking techniques with the technical support of retired community business executives.

A-4c Improve and expand the ability of our school system to provide student access to working professionals in Mariposa County.
The Mariposa County EDC, working closely with various professional organizations, service clubs, the Chamber of Commerce and the County school system, can develop a program which would bring younger students into regular contact with working professionals in our community. This program may feature a school campus “career days” event, periodic school sponsored professional or career workshops or presentations, and regular involvement of local professionals in classroom activities.

A-4d Establish retraining programs for displaced workers.
The Mariposa County EDC, in cooperation with the Job Training Partnership program and other state and federal programs, should identify local retraining needs for workers displaced by technological innovation or regional industry changes. The EDC can provide linkages between employers and educators where required and may, in some instances, identify and foster development of appropriate emerging industries which may be compatible with a displaced work force’s existing skills.

A-4e Support the establishment of Micro-Enterprise venture capital or business start-up capital assistance to individuals in the community.
Micro-Enterprise capital groups can be formed and supported by the Mariposa County EDC as a means of educating prospective small business owners and self-employed individuals in the techniques of business and finance. This program effort can be assisted and supported by retired business executives, local businesses and banks. This program can work in conjunction with, and complement, the EDC Young Business Person program.