Community Colleges’ Role for Industry

Donald Bren’s Commentary, “New Engine Will Propel County to More Prosperous Future” (Oct. 11), provides an important and realistic perspective for small entrepreneurial companies.

However, by mentioning only UC Irvine as the key player from higher education interested in providing resources to industry, he omits the significant and complementary work of a variety of linkages furnished by community colleges, locally and through its statewide economic development network, EDNet.

For example, the Business Environmental Assistance Center of Fullerton College has supported economic growth over the past two years by providing small businesses with environmental regulation compliance information. To date, it has served over 1,100 California small businesses.

The center’s primary purpose is to serve those small, entrepreneurial companies that Bren believes (and rightfully so) will “assure our vigorous, long-term economic health.”

RON KRIMPER

Vice President, Office of Institutional Advancement

Fullerton College