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UC Merced-led Collaborative Awards $10.6 Million to Community, Education Partners

By Alyssa Johansen, UC Merced
May 9, 2024
Two men in safety garments and goggles conduct an experiment at UC Merced.
CalTeach conducts a science demonstration at UC Merced for local high school students.

The WE Will! Education and Workforce Collaborative, spearheaded by UC Merced and composed of partners from Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, has awarded $10.6 million to community and education partners in the tri-county region.

Recipients applied for funding with projects aligned to the collaborative goals of WE Will! including equity for all students, developing clear pathways that cut through barriers and addressing silos that delay entry into the workforce.

WE Will! partners awarded funding in this round of subawards include:

  • $135,750 - Ripon Unified School District
  • $400,000 - Linden Unified School District
  • $400,000 - Stockton Unified School District
  • $391,755 - California State University, Stanislaus
  • $400,000 - Le Grand Union High School District
  • $400,000 - Merced Union High School District
  • $400,000 - CalTeach at UC Merced
  • $228,260 - San Joaquin County Office of Education
  • $400,000 - Gustine Unified School District
  • $385,169 - Northern San Joaquin Valley Healthforce Partners
  • $400,000 - Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District
  • $200,774 - Waterford Unified School District
  • $263,180 - Turlock Unified School District
  • $400,000 - Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (x2)
  • $400,000 - Merced Community College District
  • $380,657 - Education Pathway Development at Modesto City Schools
  • $385,000 - Dual Enrollment Expert at Modesto City Schools
  • $400,000 - Escalon High School
  • $400,000 - San Joaquin A+

Funding for the subgrants was made possible after WE Will! was awarded $18.1 million in Nov ember 2023 by the California Department of General Services as part of the K-16 Education Collaborative Grant Program.

"Providing subawards to our collaborative participants further allows impactful services and student supports to come to fruition and provides better opportunities to our students," said McKenna Salazar, executive director of the Office of K-20 Regional Alliances & WE Will! K-16 Educational Collaborative. "Each partner is committed to the work ahead in building better educational pathways and improving economic outcomes."

Another round of subawards totaling $4 million will be granted to additional community partners this fall.