Let's get ready to rumble -- with the heavy construction equipment, that is, not the fisticuffs.

The appointment of the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee and the sale of the first bond series in May have set the stage for work on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District's Proposition R-funded projects to begin in earnest at the two East County community colleges.

The Cuyamaca College Student Center will be built in two phases and will accommodate a bookstore, food services, student affairs administration, health center, student government, club offices and meeting rooms, and student development services and support staff.

Proposition R, GCCCD's $207 million facilities bond measure, was strongly embraced by East County voters last fall to fund the repair and renovation of aging facilities and to build new classrooms and labs at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges at a time of decreasing state support. The campuses, first built for maximum capacities that have long been exceeded, are bursting at the seams from ever-escalating enrollment.

Last fall, East County voters supported Proposition R, a $207 million facilities bond measure, which would fund the repair and renovation of aging facilities and to build new classrooms and labs at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges. Photo credit: John Dixon

Grossmont College was built in the early 1960s with plans to accommodate 4,800 students. Today more than 18,000 students are enrolled. Cuyamaca College opened in 1978 with a plan for 3,500 students. It now serves 8,000 and has been identified by Community College Week as one of the fastest growing community colleges in the country.

The role of the citizens' oversight committee is to review and report on district spending of Proposition R money for construction and to provide a public accounting of the district's compliance with legal requirements.

Among the first of the numerous Proposition R-funded projects are energy retrofits and renovations such as the reroofing of aging buildings in the 200 complex at Grossmont College and the installation of lighting occupancy sensors in a number of classroom buildings and administrative offices at Cuyamaca College.

New construction projects -- some funded by a combination of Proposition R proceeds and state bond funds -- include a new science building, a digital arts/sculpture building, a health sciences building and a student services complex at Grossmont College, and at Cuyamaca College, a science and technology center, a communications instructional lab building, a business and computer information systems building and a student center.

Cuyamaca College administrators look at an architectural rendering of the science and technology center to be built with Proposition R funds. From left to right are Madelaine Wolfe, division 1 dean; Geraldine M. Perri, college president; and Cristina Chiriboga, vice president of instruction. Photo/Phu Nguyen

To help East County businesses benefit from the flurry of development at both campuses, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has established a new contractor outreach program administered through Gafcon, a construction consulting firm and the college district's program manager of Proposition R construction.

"This district wants to facilitate the participation of qualified local businesses in Proposition R projects," GCCCD Governing Board President Tim Caruthers said. "We want to make sure that East County contractors, subcontractors, vendors and service providers are aware of the opportunities presented by Proposition R projects. The bottom line is, let's provide local jobs while building our campuses."

The outreach effort includes seminars, workshops, a speakers' bureau, informative publications and a construction news Web site, available at www.gcccd.net.

In addition to information on many projects, the workshops and seminars will offer pre-qualification assistance by industry experts in the areas of certification, bonding, bidding, insurance and other construction regulations. The first seminar, held in late June, drew nearly 100 industry representatives, including Luke Ninteman, executive vice president of LJ Ninteman Construction Services in Spring Valley. With a pair of businesses offering painting and general contracting services, Ninteman was eager to attend the workshop, which he had learned about through a Gafcon mailing.

"I thought it was a great idea to invite the local business community to an informational seminar," Ninteman said. "The purpose of the presentation was to explain to the business community that East County voters were the ones to approve the funding for the projects and that was the reason why East County businesses were being encouraged to participate in Proposition R construction projects. It was very informative -- they explained how the money was to be spent and provided literature on upcoming projects so that you could see what projects would fit your particular type of work. I was surprised at the variety of trades and businesses that attended -- contractors, subcontractors and lending agencies -- there was quite a variety of folks there."

From the prevailing wage structure to the competitive bidding process, Ninteman said the information provided was especially useful to the smaller businesses that may have never had dealings with public entities.

"People wanted to know the particulars of how to do business with public agencies -- the ins and outs of the bidding process, for example," Ninteman said. "I thought it was a very proactive approach."

Ninteman said his firm has had experience working on public projects, so the inside scoop on the bidding process and other business practices wasn't new to him, but he benefited from the networking opportunity and the information provided on the specific projects.

"What surprised me was the magnitude of money to be spent on the Proposition R projects," he said. "There's going to be construction taking place clear through 2007. Thanks to the seminar, I now have a schedule of projects to possibly bid on for the next several years. I've gone through and highlighted everything on the list that we could participate in."

Dr. Omero Suarez, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, said Ninteman's response to the contractor outreach seminar is exactly what the district is promoting.

"It's our hope that local business can use the information they obtain at these seminars to expand job opportunities in East County," Suarez said. "The district is committed to local participation in this massive effort to expand and improve campus facilities."

Elliott is public information assistant at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

The next seminar for the contractor outreach program is set for 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2 and Sept. 23 at the San Diego Regional Environmental Business Resource Assistance Center at 500 Fesler St., Suite 103, in El Cajon.

For information about the free workshop and the outreach program, call outreach coordinator Sol Kempinski at Gafcon at (619) 231-6100.

Projects under way 2002-2003

Grossmont College Learning Resource Center

The existing Library/Learning Resource Center was built in 1964. The new two-story building, the first new construction on campus in 38 years, will be added to the north end of the current building. It will incorporate expanded collection space and student study areas, updated technology and improved access for the disabled.

Architect: Spencer/Hoskins Associates

Square feet: 59,000

Total cost: $17 million

Funding: State general obligation bonds and Proposition R

Groundbreaking: Summer 2002

Projected completion: Fall 2003

Grossmont College Technology Center

When the current Learning Resource Center is vacated, the existing space will be converted to a technology mall, with a large, open computer area for students. Writing, math, English and other computer labs, now spread around the campus, will relocate to the mall, allowing for more accessible technical support, and more convenience and efficiency for students and staff. The relocation of these labs will enable their previous spaces to be converted to 10 or more new classrooms.

Architect: Spencer/Hoskins Associates

Square feet: 43,300

Total cost: $5.2 million

Funding: Proposition R/state scheduled maintenance and state seismic retrofit funds

Groundbreaking: Summer 2002

Projected completion: Spring 200