Offering the example of the psych tech curriculum brought in by the college when the Coalinga State Hospital was opened, she adds, “Anyone from the community who wants to be a psych tech can go through the program at West Hills College and then get picked up by the state hospital to be a psych tech there. That’s just one example, but West Hills will do that all the time. They have regular community input meetings. They’re so easy to work with and so forward-thinking. They’re always available to help us create a solid workforce.” Strong partnerships with Coalinga’s major employers, which include oil and gas companies, the Pleasant Valley State Prison, Coalinga State Hospital, and Granite Construction, are mutually beneficial, as Brewer explains, “They employ a lot of people in this community, but also, when the city is in need of something, these are folks that we reach out to, and they reach out to the community when needed. So, I think there’s a good relationship with all of these organizations that help the community continue to be able to move forward progressively.” Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant, which sits outside of Coalinga city limits, is another valued community partner. As one of the first and largest “Farm to Fork,’’ dining destinations in California, Harris Ranch offers both casual and fine dining, accommodations, banquet facilities, and a country store, and is a major employer, and a source of business to the city. As a progressive company, they are installing the largest Tesla charging station in the world, which Trejo notes is beneficial for the community. “Harris Ranch does have a lot of things to accommodate people as sort of a one-stop shop there, and that brings people into Coalinga as well. Not only that, but if people are commuting to Coalinga from other places, Harris Ranch is only about 15 minutes outside of the downtown area, and that gives them a place to charge at a supercharger station.” On the city side, Brewer acknowledges that a significant investment in water infrastructure is necessary for Coalinga, to sustain the current system which is at least 50 years old. “We’re rehabilitating some of our storage tanks that are definitely aging, 173 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 08 COALINGA CA
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