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Oakdale approves $25,000 to Opportunity Stanislaus for Volt Institute training and scholarships
Summary
The council approved a $25,000 allocation from the Economic Development Fund to Opportunity Stanislaus for the Volt Institute program, providing discounted seats and $15,000 in scholarship credits for Oakdale residents; staff will administer scholarships and Volt will report quarterly.
The Oakdale City Council voted 4–0 to allocate $25,000 from Economic Development Fund 245 to Opportunity Stanislaus to support the Volt Institute workforce program, a partnership staff said will provide training and local hiring pathways into manufacturing careers.
Staff described Volt (also referenced in the packet as the Volt Institute) as a 2017‑founded training program that offers industrial maintenance mechanic training and other workforce development courses. The city’s $25,000 investment would secure a 50% tuition discount for Oakdale staff, and Volt would provide $15,000 in scholarship credits that staff will administer to Oakdale residents who meet eligibility criteria (Oakdale residency, age 18+, high school diploma or GED, valid photo ID, and minimum WorkKeys test scores in applied math, graphic literacy and workplace documents).
A Volt/Opportunity Stanislaus representative (Mr. White) told the council about a recent graduate who advanced from roughly $30 an hour to $60 an hour and said Volt maintains strong employer partnerships in the region. “Anybody who tells you, you can't have a career in manufacturing… that it doesn't pay, it's just nonsense,” Mr. White said, describing manufacturing as a viable career pathway.
Councilmembers praised the program as an alternative to four‑year college for many students and supported scheduling a tour and continued partnership. The resolution passed unanimously; staff will establish and run a scholarship program using the Volt credit and expect quarterly reporting from Opportunity Stanislaus/Volt Institute.
