Long Beach : 3 Colleges to Get IBM Aid

Three community colleges in the area will receive more than $500,000 each in computer equipment and training from IBM Corp. to start a high-tech computer program on their campuses.

A press briefing will be held at 10 a.m. today at the World Trade Center to explain the programs planned for Cerritos, El Camino and Irvine Valley colleges.

The goal is to develop computer-integrated tools and techniques to keep U.S. manufacturing competitive.

The three community colleges are the first in Southern California to form such a partnership with IBM, said Mark Wallace, Cerritos College director of information. Nationwide, 57 two- and four-year colleges are participating in the program, he said.