Congresswoman Sara Jacobs visited San Diego Mesa College on May 31 to present a check for $1,966,279 to the San Diego Community College District for facilities improvements at Mesa College’s Family Resource Center (FRC) as well as at the Miramar College Regional Public Safety Institute.
Rep. Jacobs, whose 51st Congressional District includes both Mesa and Miramar colleges, helped secure the community project funding as part of the FY 2024 federal budget.
The largest appropriation, $1,466,279, will benefit student parents at Mesa College, the district’s largest college. The recently opened Family Resource Center is an area for students to go with their children to study, attend student parent workshops, and create community. One in four students at the college are parents and must balance caring for children with their studies. Funding will support the expansion of services through extended hours of operation, additional staff, and more supplies such as diapers and food. San Diego Mesa participated in the Generation Hope’s Family U 2-year Cohort Program to develop intentional supports for student parents. In addition to resources available at the FRC, the campus has added additional lactation spaces, increased family friendly restrooms, made Title IX information more available and will be adding items like highchairs, small furniture in community areas, and outdoor play equipment around campus.
In addition, $500,000 in congressional funding will be spent renovating the Miramar College Regional Public Safety Institute. This includes updated instructional equipment, fitness equipment, and furniture. It will also fund a crime scene investigation room to better prepare cadets. The Miramar College Regional Public Safety Institute serves as the region’s police officer training facility for the San Diego’s law enforcement agencies, including the San Diego County Sheriff’s.
“The San Diego Community College District is the largest provider of higher education and workforce training in the region with a $4.5 billion annual economic impact, and I applaud Congresswoman Jacobs for recognizing and responding to vital needs and services supporting law enforcement, student-parents and our overall community,” said Chancellor Gregory Smith.
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