Hello Long Beach! Here are some of the latest local news to kick off the week of July 3, 2023.
Long Beach Airport offers externships for local high school students
Long Beach Airport (LGB) recently launched its Careers Taking Flight Externship Program, providing 13 students from Cabrillo and Jordan high schools with the opportunity to explore various aviation careers for future positions. The program was initiated in collaboration with the Long Beach Unified School District, and the selected students were chosen from a pool of over 60 applicants. Over the course of a 40-hour, five-day program, the students learned about job responsibilities, salaries, and necessary qualifications in fields such as airport operations, airlines, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and business aviation. The participants who completed the program received a $500 incentive payment and had the chance to experience a free exploration flight through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. The summer externship program serves as the beginning of the newly established Long Beach Airport Careers Taking Flight initiative, which aims to provide educational opportunities for students from grade school to college to learn about aviation careers and gain general knowledge about LGB and its industry partners. The program aligns with the city’s efforts to address racial equity and promote the academic and job training needs of youth. Learn more here.
Long Beach youth residents vote on which non-profit organizations receive funding from the city
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with The Nonprofit Partnership and the Invest in Youth Coalition, is awarding $300,000 to seven organizations as part of a participatory budgeting pilot project. The funding was determined through a voting process involving 823 youth ages 13 through 26 from Long Beach who had a say in selecting the projects to be funded. The winning programs focused on community care, housing, health and wellness, and transportation, aligning with the goals of the Long Beach Youth & Emerging Adults Strategic Plan. The seven organizations that received funding include California Families in Focus, Casa Youth Shelter, Devotion Fitness, M.O.R.E. Mothers, Jazz Angels, Our Generation Cares, and spcaLA. The programs address various needs such as bullying prevention, housing resources, physical fitness, art development, music education, driver’s education, and animal care. The initiative, known as Youth Power PB Long Beach, aims to empower young people by involving them in budget decisions and supporting nonprofit organizations aligned with youth development goals. For detailed descriptions of the programs receiving funding and for more information, click here.
Long Beach aerospace company plans to clean up space debris
Exploration Laboratories, or ExLabs, a Long Beach-based company founded less than a year ago, aims to address the issue of space debris by developing technologies for robotic autonomous orbital debris mitigation. They are working on a spacecraft called Arachne, which will be used to remove the largest 10% of debris from orbit. ExLabs wants to clean the debris in space because it can cause catastrophic damage to space vessels. Their long-term goal is to unlock the resources of space for human sustainability and deep space missions. Co-founded by Matthew Schmidgall and Miguel Pascual, ExLabs has been operating with a team of 11 people near the Long Beach Airport and plans to expand its presence in the city. They have secured a $1.7 million grant from SpaceWERX, the innovation wing of the U.S. Space Force, and are expecting more contracts as they continue developing relationships with the Department of Defense and NASA. ExLabs intends to relocate its team to Long Beach and establish a manufacturing facility to begin prototype development. The company plans to hire more employees and aims to launch its first test mission in late 2024 or early 2025. Learn more here.
Shoreline Village considered for renovation to be a tourist spot during the 2028 Olympics
Shoreline Village, the popular tourist and shopping destination in Long Beach near the Queen Mary, is being considered for renovation and development by city and state officials. The plan also includes remodeling existing buildings, adding outdoor dining spaces, and enhancing the boardwalk and public viewing deck. The city hopes that the remodel will make Shoreline Village an attractive destination during the 2028 Olympics. The plan will be voted on by the city’s Planning Commission, and if approved, construction is expected to begin in November 2024 and end in May 2026. While final construction costs and financial data are not yet available, city officials are optimistic about the proposed changes and believe they will enhance the village while preserving its character. Councilwoman Mary Zendejas believes the proposed renovations are much-needed as the village has not been updated in decades, but the project will first require approval from the California Coastal Commission due to its location. The reopening of the Queen Mary and ongoing development in downtown Long Beach further contribute to the potential success of Shoreline Village. Learn more here.
City offers safe, engaging programs and activities for youth all summer
The City of Long Beach is investing $11.6 million in summer youth programming to provide safe and enriching activities for local youth and emerging adults. The funding aims to ensure that young people have access to recreational, educational, and mentorship opportunities during the summer break. The city offers a wide range of programs through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, including Summer Fun Days, Be S.A.F.E., and Mobile Recess, which provide supervised activities, movies in the park, and mobile recreation on neighborhood streets. The Department also partners with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to offer T-ball, baseball, and softball programs, as well as other camps and classes. The Health Department hosts the Power Up Your Summer campaign, promoting active play and healthy lifestyles, and the My Hood, My City program, engaging youth in civic education and leadership development. The Long Beach Public Library offers the Summer Reading Program and SEED Summer Camps, while Long Beach Airport provides externship opportunities for students to learn about aviation careers. The Long Beach Fire Department offers the Junior Lifeguards Program, teaching rescue techniques and promoting pathways to public safety careers. The city emphasizes equitable access to these programs and encourages parents and caregivers to enroll their children in the available opportunities. Learn more here.
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