Want a new career?
The South County Economic Development Council is hosting a new career training program to Chula Vistans interested in the optical industry.
The program “I Can See My Future” will be held at no cost through a $30,000 grant from the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation.
Participants must go through a 75-hour training program that starts in November and ends in May 2019. Students will attend a three-and – half hour class held once a week either on Thursday morning at the South County EDC/South County Career Center or Thursday evenings at Southwestern College.
“Our goal is to get people who may be stuck in a career that want to go start a new career and do something else, or may be are currently unemployed or may be re-entering the workforce,” said Cindy Gompper Graves, president and CE0 of the South County Economic Development Council.
Participants are scheduled to attend a mandatory orientation on Oct. 25 at the South County EDC/South County Career Center at 1111 Bay Blvd., Suite E. Participants can attend a morning orientation at 8:30 a.m. to Noon or in the evening from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Gommper Graves said the “I Can See My Future” training program stems from a need in South County, especially since the industry is expected to grow by 18 percent nationwide next year.
“What we hope to do is take advantage of the growth in this industry by getting our workforce ready to fill the needs that the companies have that are making eye glasses,” she said.
In the program, students will learn the basics of eye glass manufacturing, to how someone’s eyes work, and to understand the meaning of an eyeglass prescription.
Gommpper-Graves said students will take field trips to various companies to see how eye glasses are made. They will also visit optometry offices so they can understand the customer service side.
She said the program began with the South County Economic Development Council’s proactive outreach visits to businesses throughout South County like Costco in National City and Ogden in Otay Mesa, both eye glass manufactures.
She said during these outreaches they learned that there was a need for people to make eyeglasses and to work as opticians because she said the jobs in the field are more than manufacturing jobs, they are delivery and office jobs.
To apply visit www. southcountyedc.com/i-can-see-my-future
Gommper Graves said participants do not need to have experience working in the optometry field, nor is a college degree required.
Gompper Graves said there are 50 spots available with Chula Vista residents getting priority.
