Clark College Foundation Receives $90,000 Grant from U.S. Bank Foundation
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark College Foundation has received a $90,000 multiyear Community Possible grant from U.S. Bank to support two impactful ways students succeed at Clark College: expanding advanced manufacturing education at the Boschma Farms campus in Ridgefield and strengthening the Clark College Student Success Fund. This funding will help expand hands-on training, workforce development pathways, and industry-aligned instruction for students entering high-demand technical careers across Southwest Washington.
The Advanced Manufacturing Center at Clark College’s Boschma Farms campus is a state-of-the-art, 35,000-square-foot LEED Silver facility designed to meet the region’s accelerating demand for skilled technicians. The center integrates modern labs, flexible classrooms, and open manufacturing space where students train with industry-relevant technology in automation, mechatronics, clean energy, and high-tech production systems. As home to Clark’s newest programs, including Manufacturing Operator, Intro to Manufacturing, and the Integrated Technician AAT, the Advanced Manufacturing Center serves as a critical hub for workforce development, preparing graduates to step directly into high-wage, high-demand careers that fuel Southwest Washington’s economic growth.
The grant also includes a naming opportunity at the Advanced Manufacturing Center: the U.S. Bank Foundation Student Collaboration Space. This dedicated space will serve as a hub for teamwork, problem-solving, and peer learning, reflecting the essential role collaboration plays in modern manufacturing and workforce readiness. By providing a place where students can work together across disciplines, share ideas, and tackle real-world challenges, the collaboration space reinforces skills that employers value and students need to succeed in today’s interconnected workplaces.
“This generous support from the U.S. Bank Foundation helps to accelerate the growth of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and bolsters our Student Success Fund, ensuring Clark students have both cutting-edge training and the wraparound resources they need to thrive,” said Calen D.B. Ouellette, MBA, CEO of Clark College Foundation. “Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient workforce for our region.”
“Supporting the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and a dynamic workforce is an investment in today and our future. We’re proud to work with organizations like Clark College to help provide pathways to higher education and build thriving communities,” said Meghan Valley alley, Community Affairs Manager for Oregon and Southwest Washington at U.S. Bank.
“I’m proud to work for U.S. Bank and to serve on the Clark College Foundation board. The grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation to Clark College Foundation reflects our deep commitment to strengthening communities and making higher education accessible for all,” said Lani Aronsen sen, SVP, Wealth Management Market Leader for Oregon and Southwest Washington.
In addition to supporting advanced manufacturing education, a portion of the grant strengthens the Clark College Student Success Fund, a flexible, mission-driven resource that helps remove barriers to completion. The Student Success Fund supports initiatives such as basic needs resources and targeted student support programs, ensuring that when students face unexpected challenges, they can stay enrolled, focused, and on track to graduate.