VENTURA, Calif. - s4story -- The Gene Haas Advanced Manufacturing Lab had its grand opening Thursday, October 7 at the Applied Science Center at Ventura College. More than 100 guests attended the celebration, including Ventura Unified School District high school students, dignitaries and strategic community partners.

In December 2019, the Gene Haas Foundation made a $250,000 grant to the Ventura College Foundation to support the Advanced Manufacturing program at Ventura College. The funds were used to relocate the current manufacturing lab to the college's Applied Science Center and to renovate the new location into a modern manufacturing facility designed to promote manufacturing occupations and enhance student workforce manufacturing skills.

"This new lab is an excellent opportunity to engage more students in our industry, and the Gene Haas Foundation is thrilled to see it become a reality," says Kathy Looman, director of education and Gene Haas Centers naming rights. "

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The Advanced Manufacturing program is a combination of lecture and laboratory. Students use state-of-the-art Haas CNC machines as part of their hands-on learning experience to prepare themselves for entry into the workforce.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ca_oxnard_msa.htm#eag_ca_oxnard_msa.f.3), there are over 26,000 manufacturing jobs in Ventura County. There could be more. Over 800 manufacturers are based in Ventura County, many with unfilled openings.

"The Gene Haas Advanced Manufacturing Lab will be the hub of manufacturing training in Ventura County," says John Clark, lead faculty with Ventura College's Manufacturing Technology Department. "Students will learn in-demand skills that will directly translate to local living wage jobs."

"One of the highlights from the Gene Haas Advanced Manufacturing Lab Grand Opening was seeing the 60 Ventura Unified School District high school students on the Ventura College campus to explore the manufacturing, welding and drafting programs," said Ventura County Community College District Chancellor Greg Gillespie.

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The Ventura College Foundation facilitated and distributed the Gene Haas Foundation grant money to pay for the cost of the lab relocation and building upgrades.

"Our foundation has had a strong relationship with the Gene Haas Foundation for over 14 years. We are grateful for its continued support of Ventura College students," says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. "Besides its generous donation to the advanced manufacturing lab, the Gene Haas Foundation funds an endowment that provides scholarships to students interested in manufacturing careers. Since 2005, the amount totals nearly $900,000."

For information about the program, go to https://www.venturacollege.edu/departments/academic/manufacturing-technology. For more on the Ventura College Foundation, go to www.VenturaCollegeFoundation.org or call 805-289-6461.