The Los Angeles Community College District on July 28 applauded Gov. Gavin Newsom for signing the Higher Education trailer bill, which will deliver “unprecedented” resources for the state’s community colleges, including dedicated funding for student housing and basic needs, workforce programs and ethnic studies.

Newsom’s budget is the largest and most comprehensive higher education budget in the history of California and represents the forward-looking approach of the state – with its focus on ensuring that students have programs that fit with the jobs of the future and making attending community college as affordable and accessible as possible.

“This year’s budget is a milestone for our community colleges and will keep Los Angeles at the forefront of our innovation economy,” said LACCD Board President Steve Veres. “This historic package will provide significant, long-term and sustainable support for programs that will make our schools more equitable and accessible to all students, while providing a rigorous and relevant education that leaves all graduates poised for success.”

Particularly notable is the $2 billion to invest in affordable student housing, a critical equity issue in one of the most expensive cities in the world. The Legislature also included $100 million to fund students’ basic needs, such as housing and food — a growing issue with costs increasing through the pandemic.

“This was the year for our district to go big with an ambitious legislative agenda intended to build a sustainable, equitable framework for our institutions and our students,” said LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez. “I want to thank our state legislators for their support of California’s community colleges and Governor Gavin Newsom for being a true visionary for higher education.”

LACCD, working alongside stakeholders and students at the forefront in many cases, advocated for the investment months.

“This budget incorporates many of our key priorities, and I commend Governor Newsom and our state legislators for their dedication to higher education,” said Mike Fong, chair of the LACCD Legislative and Public Affairs Committee. “I am pleased that the Legislature stepped up to secure the future of critical educational tools like the Strong Workforce Program, which will continue to make California a dynamic economy for years to come.”