Norwalk

Cerritos College has received a $25,000 grant from Northrop Corp. to develop a program to train students in manufacturing and design of composites for the aerospace industry, college officials said.

The college will start a composite technician training program in the fall. Composites are compounds made from fibers, glass, graphite and plastic resin. They are used to make the retractable arms used on the space shuttles, as well as on boat hulls and automobile bodies.

The school is working with the Southern California Aerospace Industry/Education Council to develop the curriculum, said Charles Wallace, college spokesman.