Merced College took another bold step toward shaping the future of agriculture in the Central Valley with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 17 for the new AgTEC Innovation Center.
The event welcomed a packed crowd of elected officials, industry leaders, local employers, education partners, and community members to celebrate a milestone in the college’s vision for regional innovation and workforce development.
“This center is the next chapter in our college’s evolution—from access and excellence to access and innovation,” President Chris Vitelli said. “Our ag faculty and students have long represented the best of this region’s values: hard work, stewardship, and resilience. Now, we’re pairing that tradition with forward-thinking tools and technology.
“Local talent does not have to leave the Valley for opportunity. We’re bringing the opportunity here.”
The AgTEC Innovation Center will provide industry-grade facilities and real-world learning environments across several disciplines, including:
- Food Processing Labs: Nut, fruit, vegetable, and meat processing rooms equipped with roasters, mills, coaters, vacuum sealers, packaging lines, and food safety systems.
- Nutrition and Product Development: A commercial kitchen and research facility to explore value-added food product creation.
- Retail Market Storefront: A student-run market offering fresh produce and goods to the public while building business and marketing skills.
- Flexible Training Classrooms: Designed for certificate programs, short courses, and workforce upskilling in partnership with industry.
“The AgTEC Innovation Center is not just a building, but a bold investment in the future of agriculture and the people who power it,” said Cody Jacobsen, Merced College’s Director of Ag Innovation. “It’s where education and industry come together to ensure our region remains competitive, innovative and inclusive.”
The AgTEC Innovation Center, slated for completion in 2026, is the latest step in the college’s broader AgTEC Workforce Initiative, which has garnered national recognition for its use of Competency-Based Education (CBE) to provide free, flexible training to current and future agricultural workers.
It’s all part of F3 AgTEC, the workforce development arm of the regional F3 Initiative (Farms, Food, Future). Led by Merced College, F3 AgTEC aims to build a coordinated workforce system that meets the evolving needs of the agriculture and food sectors. The initiative is supported by more than $42 million in public investment, including a $27 million federal grant and $15 million secured in the California state budget by Senator Anna Caballero.
Other community college partners in the AgTEC initiative include Reedley College, Fresno City College, Clovis College, Madera College, Lemoore College, and Coalinga College, all working together to develop curriculum and prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers in ag tech and food systems across the region.
Congressman Adam Gray, a Merced College alumnus, applauded the college’s leadership and emphasized the regional and statewide impact of the project.
“The opportunities in AgTEC are immense and incredible,” Gray said. “We’re going to create the jobs of the future right here at Merced College. I wish we had a Merced College in every county and every community in the state, because this really is a great place with great people doing great things.”
The ceremony also featured remarks from Ashley Swearengin, president and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation, a key partner in the initiative.
“People have come together to do the impossible, and there is so much in front of us to do,” Swearengin said. “Just bringing this building to life and beginning to operate the programs does not get us across the finish line of higher incomes, lower unemployment, a sustainable culture, a sustainable society. It’s for those people that we take a breath and commit ourselves to the next 20 years of this journey.
“On behalf of the board and the staff and the donors and all the folks who make up the Central Valley Community Foundation, it’s a joy and a privilege to be alongside and to support the leadership of this community. We’re in it for the long haul.”
The AgTEC Innovation Center builds on Merced College’s momentum as it positions itself as a national leader in ag tech, clean energy, and food systems innovation. Complementary efforts such as Reservoir Farms—a startup incubator focused on ag robotics and automation—further reinforce the college’s commitment to aligning education with emerging industry needs.
“Here at Merced College, innovation’s not just a buzzword—it’s a blueprint,” Vitelli said. “I say often that we are going to be the most innovative community college in the country, and it’s projects like this that help us get there.”
