LONG BEACH, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2026) Long Beach City College (LBCC) has been awarded a five-year, $3 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the Space Beach Academy, a new program that’ll prepare students for high-wage, in-demand careers in Long Beach’s fast-growing aerospace industry, also known as “Space Beach.” 

The Space Beach Academy will create structured academic pathways in advanced manufacturing, welding, engineering technology, and engineering. Students will enroll full time in cohorts and receive case management to keep them on track academically and connected to financial aid, basic needs support and other services they need to successfully complete their program. The academy will also be supported by a Space Beach Summer Bridge program and a Space Beach Employment Advisory Council, and it will expand work-based learning opportunities so students gain real experience before they graduate. 

“Long Beach is building the future of aerospace right here in our backyard, and our students deserve a front row seat,” said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC Superintendent-President. “This grant lets us build clear pathways from our classrooms to good-paying aerospace jobs. Our students shouldn’t have to leave Long Beach to find a great career. We’re bringing those careers to them.” 

The program’s curriculum will be informed by companies in the Space Beach aerospace cluster, including employer partners Vast and Anduril. LBCC will also work with Long Beach Unified School District to build a pipeline from local K-12 schools, and with the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network to align the academy with citywide and regional workforce development efforts. 

The grant’s first year, funded at $316,000, will focus on planning and development. Pending approval by the LBCC Board of Trustees, the college will hire a director of workforce projects within its Workforce Development division to lead the program and map out the academy’s launch.