吃瓜头条 last week was awarded a $3 million construction renovation grant from the Department of Commerce鈥檚 Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant, along with the last of the 2002 Measure H Bond funds, will provide over $9 million to renovate and modernize the Vocational Building near the center of the Merced campus.听听听
The Vocational Building, originally constructed in 1967, has undergone additions and upgrades throughout its history to accommodate ADA and programmatic changes. The building houses 吃瓜头条鈥檚 business programs and is home to labs for Computer Science, Administrative Office Management, Accounting, Foods and Nutrition, and Drafting Technology. The International Student Services Office is also located in the Vocational Building, promoting awareness, perspective and understanding of international cultures.听听
News of the EDA funding came just days after听吃瓜头条 broke ground on the new Raj M. Kahlon Agriculture and Industrial Technology Complex, a 29,000-square-foot facility that will be the first new building on campus since 2009, replacing original facilities that were built in the 1960s.听
鈥淲e have a two-fold mission to serve our students and to meet the needs of our community, and these projects are going to dramatically improve our ability to do both,鈥� 吃瓜头条 President Chris Vitelli said. 鈥淥ur students and instructors are going to love the new spaces we鈥檙e creating for them, and our community will continue to benefit greatly from these听career technical and instructional听programs.鈥澨�听
Planned renovations to the two-story, 29,034-square-foot Vocational Building include: rebuilding听and modernizing听the building鈥檚 interior听labs and classrooms<span>; reconfiguring spaces to accommodate programmatic functions; updating all heating, ventilation and air conditioning; new lighting听and听networking;听updating handrails, restrooms and drinking fountains for accessibility; replacing the roofing system;听classroom technology upgrades<span>; and new听landscaping and interior and exterior听paint.听听
The building remodel will include a new culinary lab, which will provide opportunities for students in the growing hospitality听industry听sector. The building renovations will increase the听number of students able to complete the program and allow for the addition of a commercial kitchen that will serve as the foundation for their future career.听听
鈥淭he new space will be a prominent fixture in the heart of the Merced听campus, and听will continue the college鈥檚 long tradition of educating and upskilling the local workforce,鈥� said Bryan Tassey, Dean of Career Technical Education.听听
The听college is working on developing a timeline听for the project,听with hopes to begin construction as early as next summer, according to Joe Allison, Vice President of Administrative Services.听Planning will begin听in听Fall 2021,听with construction expected听to be completed听by听Spring听2024.听听听
鈥淲e recognize the urgency听in modernizing these outdated facilities and want to complete this important project as quickly as possible to better prepare society- and workforce-ready graduates,鈥� Allison听said.听
鈥淭he EDA grant application was a yearlong process that involved gathering local industry, workforce development, and dignitary support,鈥� said Marcus Metcalf, Director of Capital Projects and Construction. 鈥淢any parties were involved in the effort, and we are very grateful for the award of this federal grant.鈥�听
Media Contact: James Leonard,听[email protected], 209-681-1061