Merced College receives $1.5 million in federal money for fire training center
Merced College has received $1.5 million in federal money to expand its fire training facilities at the Hawk Regional Training Center.
The money was awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Project Funding program, according to a Merced College news release.
The training center is on Hawk Drive in south Merced. Phase I of the project established the site’s foundational infrastructure, including grading, access and initial training components.
The federal money will help pay for Phase II, which will expand the facility’s capacity and enhance hands-on training opportunities for students and current fire professionals, the news release said.
“This federal investment represents an important step forward for Merced College and the communities we serve,” said Merced College President Chris Vitelli. “By advancing the Hawk Regional Training Center, we are strengthening our ability to prepare students for careers in public safety while supporting the long-term resilience of our region. We are grateful for the support that made this funding possible and look forward to continuing this work.”
Merced College’s fire programs recently earned State Fire Training accreditation.
