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There’s no doubt that Fortune 500 companies Macy’s and Target Corp. missed the mark when they recently declined to build distribution centers in Patterson based on a perceived lack of education among residents.
Their judgments were based on seven-year-old data — not smart, given that Patterson was the third-fastest growing city in the state last year and its demographics have dramatically changed.
Still, those perceptions should be, and likely have been, smelling salts for those trying to draw business into town.
As talk continues to brew about a future community college campus in Patterson, those who promote the city to outside corporations should tout the college’s potential as a major asset.
The exact nature of Modesto Junior College’s future West Side center — whether it will have more focus on technical training or liberal arts — has yet to be determined. That will require more surveying of the community to determine its wants and needs.
Either way, cooperation between the city, the college district, Patterson Unified School District and local economic development experts could help draw employers into the area. At the least, it will make a statement that education is a priority in this city.
The sooner the college is up and running, the better. The deadline for the transfer of title for property off Baldwin Road for the college campus is Sept. 30. So far, developer Michael Miroyan and Yosemite Community College District officials have said everything appears to be on track.
Though college district officials said this week it could take as long as 10 years to develop the new college site once the property is transferred, more MJC night classes could be added at Patterson High School in the meantime. Some of those could have a vocational bent.
Roe Darnell, who became the college district’s new chancellor in April, has a passion for economic development and has said he wants to see the college work with local businesses, possibly to offer job training programs and vocational classes.
That in itself is a good sign for the city as it struggles to provide more high-quality jobs to let local commuters work closer to home.
By joining forces, city officials, businesses and educators can show that Patterson not only has a more educated workforce than major corporations give us credit for, but also is ahead of the curve when it comes to making higher learning a priority.
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