WILLITS, CA., 3/11/26 — At the Mendocino College Willits campus Tuesday, a group of politicians, educational leaders, and community members came together to celebrate an infusion of approximately $20 million in funds for construction of a new building on the campus.
More than 70 people packed Mendocino College’s North County Center on Tuesday morning to listen to an announcement about a nearly 19,000-square-foot building that will be constructed on the Willits campus.
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Ukiah, state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Ukiah, Mendocino College President Tim Karas, Mendocino County Supervisor John Haschak and other leaders involved in the project spoke about how the infusion of funds will support increasing enrollment at the college and create opportunities for economic development.
McGuire spoke about how the new building will include dedicated spaces for programs such as fire technology, health sciences, and construction.
The estimated opening of the new building will be in spring 2029.
“It will be a hub for careers here in Mendocino County,” McGuire said at the beginning of the event. “With career training programs such as fire science, a new fire academy, construction and energy technology, lab service training, training the next generation of healthcare technicians and skilled lab workers.”
The $20 million investment was secured by McGuire and Huffman through a state grant, a federal grant and Proposition 2, a state measure passed in 2024 to increase funding for public schools and community colleges. According to Karas from Mendocino College, 20% of the funds will be matched locally.
McGuire also discussed why he and Huffman saw it as necessary to secure funding for Mendocino College and develop a career development building in Willits.
“Congressman Huffman and I have a firm belief that we need to grow careers close to home,” McGuire said.
He also spoke about the destruction that wildfires have caused in the community.
“As everyone knows, we’ve experienced here in Mendocino County, and on the North Coast, we’ve been on the frontlines of the wildfire crisis for years, and we’ve experienced devastating fires,” McGuire said. “So we need a larger, well-trained firefighting workforce. That need has never been more urgent as we face a year-round fire season.”
In an interview at the end of the event, Huffman said the programs offered at Mendocino College, specifically those that will be offered at the new Willits campus, will support locals looking to build a career in the area. He said that this will be an accessible career pathway for those who may not want to attend traditional four-year universities.
“You don’t have to go to a four-year school and join a fraternity and pay crazy tuition. If you just want to get a job, earn a living, and support your family, this is for you,” Huffman said.
“This is about actually appreciating more that pathway to prosperity, and not just the credential snobbery that perhaps has been correctly criticized in the past,” he added. “I am still a big believer in four-year degrees and higher education of all types, but we have underappreciated this part of the higher education proposition.”
Money going to the college sounds good, but is anyone watching where it goes?
Part-time or Adjunct faculty have been paid less than minimum wage since 2001, minimum full-time faculty numbers are ignored and administrative spending caps bypassed. Over the last twenty years faculty spending has remained flat, administrative spending more than doubled and the number of administrators increased by half, according to the California Auditor. From a distance it appears administrators are embezzling public money by violating several California laws.
If only those elected officials would investigate the California community colleges for the system of fraud and abuse they are. 3/5 of all classes being taught by people paid less than minimum wage, no districts employing enough full-time faculty. Not good enough!
It only works when I’m Chad.
talk about interest!!
i use it barely when i’m in my store.