Merced College seeks to build semiconductor technician program with $50,000 study grant
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Summary
Merced College told the Los Banos City Council it has a $50,000 North Valley Thrive grant to study creating a semiconductor technician program at the Los Banos campus and is pursuing partnerships and additional state grant funding to develop curriculum and a public–private training facility.
Merced College President Chris Vitale told the Los Banos City Council that the college received a $50,000 planning grant through North Valley Thrive to study creation of a semiconductor technician program at the Los Banos campus.
Vitale said the study will produce an economic analysis and curriculum roadmap, and that the college is engaging partners including Arizona State University and Silicon Valley firms to explore public–private training and potential small testing, packaging or fabrication facilities. He told the council the campus has surplus land and that Measure P bond dollars will support growth of allied-health and manufacturing programs at Los Banos.
The presentation noted national and regional demand: Vitale cited a five- to six-year industry projection that the United States will need more than 115,000 skilled technicians and suggested a ratio of four to six technicians per engineer. He said a strong roadmap could position the college and the city to apply for up to $2 million in California Jobs First funds to begin implementation.
Vitale said Merced College serves over 3,000 students at the Los Banos campus and that the grant-funded study will include partner outreach and an economic landscape review. He invited city leaders to meet with the college once the workforce study is complete to discuss how the city and county might help form an industry cluster.
The council did not take a formal vote on the presentation but expressed support and interest in continuing discussions.
