Fresno State unveiled a new advanced manufacturing lab on November 2, built to give Central Valley factory workers hands-on training in everything from milling to blueprint reading. The lab, run by the university's Department of Industrial Technology, grew out of a partnership between Fresno State and local industry partners aimed at closing a workforce gap that regional manufacturers have flagged for years.
The project traces back to fall 2022, when the Department of Industrial Technology and the AG ONE Foundation began planning the lab and launching fundraising efforts, according to Fresno State Today. Funding came together from several sources: the Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative contributed nearly $500,000 for the lab, including money from the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation's Good Jobs Challenge award, while the Farms Food Future initiative, the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and the Division of Continuing and Global Education added another $350,000 for parts of the project, per the same report.
Construction on the space itself wrapped earlier this fall — a milestone Fresno State Today confirmed separately, noting plainly that construction was complete on the new model manufacturing lab for the Industrial Technology Department. The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology approved funding for facility renovations, including electrical and plumbing upgrades and painting, and the Division of Continuing and Global Education kicked in seed funds to support the college's efforts.
What the Training Actually Covers
Fresno State faculty and students will use the lab to train employees from local manufacturers, trade shops and machining companies, according to the university's account. The curriculum spans manual and computer numerical control machining, product design, 3D printing and scanning, blueprint reading and other industry competencies. Employer-focused workshops will rely on traditional manual machining presses and equipment, with sessions covering boring, cutting, drilling, grinding, lathing, milling and metrology measurement instruments.
Companies can schedule specific employee-training workshops on weekends or nights, a scheduling option the university says is meant to work around factory shift patterns. The Department of Industrial Technology also plans to add robotic arms and a conveyor line to demonstrate assembly line operations, expanding the lab's hands-on scope over time.
A Veteran Machinist Leads the First Classes
Mike Luchesi, an adjunct faculty member in the department, hosted the lab's first workshops this past August for six employees from Total Concept Enterprises, a local machining manufacturer specializing in fasteners. Luchesi brings nearly five decades of manufacturing experience to the role; he earned both his undergraduate and master's degrees in industrial technology from Fresno State and has spent most of the past 35 years teaching similar skills at Madera Community College, West Hills Community College, Fresno City College, area high schools and Pleasant Valley State Prison.
“Being able to teach these workshops is a great experience for me,” Luchesi said, according to Fresno State Today, adding that his manufacturing background helps him understand what employees actually need from the training. He also said the hands-on format, combined with smaller class sizes and flexible timing, can develop skills that might otherwise take up to two years through a formal college program. Christopher Court, Faith Schroeder and Sarbrinder Singh will assist Luchesi in future training sessions; the three previously helped instructional support technician Andrew Harper set up the lab, which Harper initially designed.
Grant Targets 40 to 60 Workers by Next Spring
The lab's workforce-training push is funded through a Good Jobs Challenge federal grant that aims to train between 40 and 60 employees before it ends in May 2027. The Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative manages the grant. Karri Hammerstrom, the collaborative's executive director, said the program aims to help local employers close skills gaps and give workers a path to advance, calling it an inaugural effort intended to grow into a lasting advanced manufacturing workforce-development hub at Fresno State.
Hammerstrom and Nikolai Rico, the collaborative's business engagement coordinator, worked with Fresno State to organize the partnership and funding, integrating lab planning with the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation and with Genelle Taylor Kempe and Sandra Thomas, who represent the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance. The Department of Industrial Technology gathered advice from its advisory board, area educators and local manufacturers while designing the program, consulting with companies including PNM, Innovation Alley, Grundfos, Total Concept Enterprises and Anlin Windows & Doors. The lab moved closer to reality under Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire's leadership as dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
William Oliver, president and CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, said Valley precision manufacturers have consistently identified a need for entry-level and incumbent-worker training. He said employer partners helped design rapid incumbent-worker training modules for employees and the industry, and that the resulting training modules will help partner businesses grow. Upskilling incumbent workers, backers note, also creates opportunities for increased wages.
Classroom Use Starts This Spring
Beyond employer workshops, industrial technology courses will use the lab starting in spring 2027 for manufacturing, product design, production operations and technology coursework. Industrial technology students will also be able to use the space for culminating undergraduate and master's degree projects, giving the lab a dual role serving both enrolled students and working professionals from area factories. The Division of Continuing and Global Education anticipates offering future workshops aligned with student and community workforce skill development.
The lab's launch fits into a broader pattern of Central Valley workforce investment. Regionally, Good Jobs Central Valley recently reported surpassing 1,200 job placements for local residents, according to The Business Journal. Separately, Fresno State is also set to receive $4.36 million through California Jobs First to establish The Forge, an innovation and commercialization hub for entrepreneurs and emerging companies, as reported by the Hanford Sentinel. That investment is part of more than $10.4 million awarded to a coordinated portfolio of Central Valley manufacturing projects, with The Forge expected to support startups in advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, ag-tech, biotech and related fields, the Sentinel reported.
Companies interested in the manufacturing lab's training program can contact Nikolai Rico at [email protected] or 559.373.0686.
