Community Coordinator Report
By Josephine Wyatt

January - March, 2006


PARTNERSHIPS THRIVING FOR THE COMMUNITY
by Brenda Sisk

The Siskiyou Training & Employment Program (STEP) Inc., has been committed to providing support to several College of the Siskiyous medical programs.  In December 2005, COS boasted a graduating class of 27 students as it celebrated its 23rd Vocational Nursing Class graduation.  STEP provided training costs to 26 students in the graduating class, including books, required uniforms, tools, background check and fingerprinting fees, malpractice insurance, exam and license fees to assist them as they transition to new fulfilling careers.  Since December 2005, a total of 17 STEP students have reported that they have passed the NCLEX exam, and 8 students have secured employment offers as LVNs.  The remaining students have either scheduled their exams for future dates or are awaiting results. Congratulations to this class for a job well done!

In January 2006, a new LVN class began the 3-semester trek to a new career and STEP has enrolled 31 students of the total 33, including 3 alternates, to support them with the training costs of their program.  Of those students, 2 have dropped from the program, but continue to take coursework at COS to upgrade their skills in preparation for the next LVN cycle, as well as prerequisites for RN Training.  Students must be extremely dedicated in order to meet the expectations of the program and attain their goal of becoming a nurse.

The 2004/05 Paramedic Training is seeing closure as well.  STEP provided support including books, required uniforms, tools, background check and fingerprinting fees, and exam fees to assist students as they complete training. This program is fast-paced and extensive for the duration they are in training. Theory portion alone encompasses eight months of classroom training followed by clinical hours in a hospital setting and an ambulance internship after which students may sit for the National Registry examination and paramedic licensure. Many students come from outside of Siskiyou County to participate in the training program and enter careers as Paramedics.  STEP has supported 7 students through completion of this Paramedic class; 3 have reported that they passed their exams and entered employment as Paramedics.  The remaining students are either in the process of scheduling their exams or awaiting results.  Again, congratulations are extended to these students as they enter their exciting careers!

STEP is providing support for the 2005/06 Paramedic Training and enrolled 6 students in the program. Of those students, 2 have dropped from the program at this time for various reasons. Both individuals work seasonal employment with CDF as Fire Fighters. Many times students, though they have received vocational advising from STEP staff, find after beginning the program that they must make the difficult choice to drop the program because they determine that they cannot meet the grueling study requirements and work at the same time.

STEP assists LVNs as they upgrade to RNs through Shasta College.  Currently there are 11 students enrolled in the LVN-RN Upgrade program.  There are 10 students scheduled to complete in May 2006 and 1 scheduled to complete in December of 2006.  Graduating students have excellent earning potential as they move through the training stages in the nursing programs and finally become RNs.

STEP works closely with COS to maintain good working partnerships for the benefit of the community and it is very gratifying to know that students are entering rewarding careers that can comfortably support families in these changing times. STEP staff, as members of the advisory boards to the training programs are able to exchange input with all those providing support to the programs. STEP has also assisted with financial support for tutors and teachers as necessary for the success of the students participating in the programs.  This is all possible because of the excellent working partnerships between COS and other community agencies.

STEP is in the process of developing a regional plan for a new federal nursing grant to expand the LVN-RN Upgrade programs.  The funds will be utilized to provide increased student participation through the addition of instructors at Shasta College.  It is anticipated that STEP will assist 18 students through the 3-semester program beginning January 2007.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
SUCCESS STORY
Bruno Grossi, Career Devlopment Advisor with STEP, provides a three week long Job Search class which is offered every month.  The class is designed to provide participants an opportunity to reevaluate themselves in a more positive light, to raise their self-esteem and processes necessary to successfully compete in the labor market.  The class teaches self-directed job search techniques and explores many skills required to maintain and move ahead on the job. The following is a letter that Bruno received from one of his students. Great Job Bruno!!!!

Dear Mr. Bruno Grossi:

Thank you for teaching your class with such passion, knowledge, motivation, and a good sense of humor.

After taking your class I gained confidence, intelligence, problme solving and people skills to use in job search and in life. I have now got a new outlook on life I know I can do anything I set my mind to with hard work and determination.

As for the job with the Department of Fish and Game I had five days to get ready starting Friday so I called four of my friends Friday for letters of recommendation, made resume, cover letter, practiced interviwing and logged on to Department of Fish and Game website and read as much as I could and printed information I thought would be helpful. Saturday I bought resume paper, printed resume, cover letter, references, practiced interviewing and checked on letters of recommendation received one. Monday I got all my information together called on letters of recommendation and was able to get one more, turned in application, practiced interviwing and wrote answers to common questions on paper and kept studying. Tuesday I woke up feeling fresh and confident due to being prepared, took shower, brushed teeth and even combed my crazy hair, went to interview felt pretty relaxed, I walked in introduced myself waited to be seated and started talking I answered all the questions just the way you taught in class I did awesome. He told me that I was really on the ball and very relaxed, and that instead of calling me to keep it to myself but I got the job and to come down tomorrow and fill out the paper work.Woohaa!!!

 Again please accept my gratitude for everything I have gained from you both professional and personal, I know that because of you I have that extra edge. I will always remember your class and what you taught me and pass it on to as many people as possible so that they can hopefully better themselves as I am.

Sincerely,

Brian Z. Casson

STEP RECEIVES COLLEGE OF THE SISKIYOU PRESIDENTS' CIRCLE AWARD
Excerpts from Siskiyou Daily News article

The College of the Siskiyous Foundation recognized its top donors on February 4th , providing individuals and businesses with a plaque and membership in the President’s Circle. Businesses receiving recognition were Scott Valley Bank and Siskiyou Training and Employment Program (STEP). 

The purpose of the foundation is to solicit and receive contributions and dispense funds to assist and support the educational programs and general welfare of the college.  Those honored at the annual President’s Circle gala banquet are the top donors and contributors to the foundation in the 2004-05 fiscal year. 

ENTERPRISE ZONE ADVISORY COUNCIL
by Josephine Wyatt

The Shasta Valley Enterprise Zone was first established in 1992, to provide substantial tax credits to businesses located within the Zone.   The tax credits are essential to the businesses, often times making the difference for a businesses’ bottom line.  The Zone is the most advantageous program available for economic development in the state. The Shasta Valley Enterprise Zone expires in 2008 and depending on the outcome of the legislature there will be a need to either reapply or apply for an extension.

To prepare for the application process the Siskiyou County Economic Development Council (SCEDC) organized a local Enterprise Zone Advisory Council. Attendees included representatives from local businesses that have received the zone tax credits and know their value. The consensus was clear about the importance of the program.  A representative from JH Baxter stated “the only reason my business has survived in Siskiyou County is because of the Enterprise Zone benefits make it financially possible.”  A spokesperson from Crystal Geyser confirmed the Zone was a major factor in bringing their company to Siskiyou County. 

According to data from the California Franchise Tax Board businesses in Siskiyou County saves approximately $1 million on their taxes annually. 


EDA GRANT BRINGS NEW BUSINESS TO WEED
Excerpts from article by Pat Arnold, Siskiyou Daily News

Michael Unruh, the founder of Shasta Farms, is hoping that a small white bean that has enjoyed popularity in Europe and the Middle East for centuries will make just as big an impression on healthy eaters in America.  Unruh is part of a German company that for many years has been turning out Lopino, a product made only of lupin beans and water.  Lopino offers vegetarian diners an alternative to tofu which is manufactured from soy.  Unruh says Lopino is made from protein extracted from the lupin beans which has been around since the time of the pharaohs of Egypt.  The Germans developed sweet lupin from the beans in the 1920’ and it has enjoyed popularity as a protein source since them.  Unruh’s German company has patented a method of processing lupin beans into Lopino, and Unruh is working to bring that process to the United States.

Lopino can be used as a meat substitute or for making sauces and as a substitute for cheese.  It is packaged in its pure form and is marketed in products that look like small sausage and luncheon meats, sandwich spreads and Loyu sauce, similar to soy sauce.  Lopino is also low in fat, cholesterol free, easily digested and purely vegetarian. Lupino is free of GMO’s years, gluten and lactose. 

When the Unruh’s decided to being lupin bean production to California, they began looking for a location with high water quality and settled on a location in the City of Weed.  Unruh says his plans for a lupin bean processing facility in Weed played a big part in a decision by the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) to grant a $2.3 million grant to the City of Weed to expand its industrial park.  “We were competing with all of the west coast and Hawaii for this money,” Unruh said, but Weed came home with the grant. 

Unruh has chosen “Shasta Farms” as the name of his processing facility and says his product will not only bring jobs to Weed, but can also help local farmers interested in a new crop.  Unruh is hopeful that some of the growers in eastern Siskiyou County involved in potato farming may consider changing to lupin beans as an alternative crop.  Test plots have been established in Scott Valley and in the Sacramento Valley that have shown success.  “We have been working with the University of California at Davis and Oregon State University for some time on this,” Unruh said. 

Now that the EDA grant has been approved, Unruh has the architectural drawings for the construction of the Shasta Farms processing plant in Weed ready for construction.  The equipment to process lupin beans is waiting in Europe for shipment to Weed for installation in the Shasta Farms facility and Unruh hopes to be up and running by the fall of 2006. 

“We are the first in the United States to do this,’ Unruh said, adding, “Once we start making some noise about our product, I know people are going to jump on the bank wagon.”