Building a Stronger Workforce Through Advanced Manufacturing

The City of Modesto is a proud founding partner of Stanislaus 2030, a public-private partnership that promotes economic prosperity for Stanislaus County by strategically developing resilient industries aligned with our strong agricultural base.

One key recommendation from Stanislaus 2030's comprehensive research and analysis of the local landscape is to leverage local strengths by investing in the traded-sector industry to continue broadening our economic base and creating high-quality job opportunities. The analysis identified bioindustrial manufacturing as a unique advantage for our community in Modesto and the county at large. This growing industry complements Modesto's historic roots in agriculture and food processing and has the potential to strengthen the regional workforce by expanding advanced and technical careers alongside the growth of AI and evolving technology.

Modesto is home to several manufacturing sector industries including food and beverage, packaging, and waste-to-value production companies. These industries not only provide employment pathways, but they also produce the foods, beverages, and wines the community consumes. They produce innovative packaging, durable toys, and state-of-the art tools that reduce waste and support healthy communities. To keep up with the future of manufacturing, the need for a skilled local workforce is growing.

Stanislaus 2030 in partnership with the Stanislaus County Workforce Development, the Manufacturing Council of the Central Valley, and the Stanislaus Partners in Education are hosting the North Valley Manufacturing Summit to bring students, educators, and manufacturing leaders together. This summit will focus on advanced manufacturing, allowing students to explore manufacturing as a career, encouraging educators to integrate manufacturing topics into their curriculum, and providing manufacturers with the opportunity to engage with future talent and share industry needs.

Host partners describe advanced manufacturing as "using cutting-edge technology - like robotics, automation, 3D printing, and computer-controlled machines - to build products smarter and faster than traditional methods. These aren't the factory jobs of the past. They're high-tech, well-paying careers in engineering, operations, design, and more."

Individuals interested in learning more about the summit may visit the Manufacturers Council of Central Valley website.

The City of Modesto is committed to supporting local partners that strive to ensure students, workers, and the region is prepared for the modern workforce. Resulting in a stable, resilient economy that helps residents achieve financial stability in addition to support for small business and industry growth.

Learn more about Modesto's manufacturing momentum in the August 2026 Issue of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, Progress Magazine. Residents can pick up a copy at the Modesto Chamber of Commerce Office located at 1114 J Street, Modesto, CA 95354.