CET’s Mission

The mission of CET, an economic and community development corporation, is to promote human development and education by providing people with marketable skills training and supportive services that contribute to self-sufficiency.

CET’s Commitment

We are driven to help those who want a better life get the skills needed for meaningful work. CET’s job training programs teach marketable skills to people of all educational levels and backgrounds, even if there are barriers to overcome. In addition to teaching trade skills in growing fields, we provide supportive services and job placement assistance.

Everyone deserves the dignity of self-sufficiency. We believe in a hand-up, not a hand-out. We want to help lift people out of poverty and into a brighter future.

Our Story

  • 1967

    San Jose, CA. Father Anthony Soto and Russell Tershy establish CET’s first job-training center. CET encourages seasonal farm workers to seek permanent work and a better life.

  • 1971

    Rated as “the most effective” job training program in the nation.

  • 1976

    CET opens 6 new centers: San Jose (3), Gilroy, Salinas, and Santa Cruz.

  • 1982

    CET is recognized in the Congressional Record as “one of the best of the non-profit, community-based skill training centers in the United States.”

  • 1988

    CET helps over 45,000 people with Immigration Services.

  • 1989

    MDRC (Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation) publishes results of youth training programs, JOBSTART, showing biggest gains made by the youth trained by the CET.

  • 1990

    The Rockefeller Foundation releases results of a 5-year national study of programs serving female minority head of households and CET stands out in every category of measurement.

  • 1990

    CET becomes national model. President George Bush awards CET funds to replicate its job training program in cities throughout the U.S. Programs are in Lexington and Newport, Kentucky; Lynchburg and Roanoke, VA; and Washington, DC.

    1992

    10 centers open on the East Coast and Mid-West.

  • 1993

    President Bill Clinton’s Administration praises CET for track record of helping the most disadvantaged find jobs.

  • 1994

    CET goes international. Job training center opens in Belize, Central America.

  • 2002

    100,000 people trained and placed in jobs.

  • 2004

    CET opens in Chile.

  • 2012

    CET voted # 1 in Silicon Valley/Career Training School by the San Jose / Silicon Valley Business Journal.

  • 2017

    CET celebrates 50 years of providing job training and human development.

  • Today

    YOU change your life by signing up for job training at CET.