THE MERCED COUNTY CEDS 2025–2030

A Dual-Engine, Countywide Strategy Grounded in Working-Class Stability

UC Merced + Castle Commerce Center + Rural Corridor + AFSCME + Community Stabilization

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Merced County is not one town.
It is an interdependent rural region made up of:

Los Banos
Dos Palos
Livingston
Delhi
Winton
Atwater
Franklin-Beachwood
Planada
Le Grand
Merced City

Any economic plan that is centered solely on UC Merced or Castle is structurally incomplete.

This CEDS treats Merced County as what it truly is:

A working-class, agricultural, multilingual, multi-town ecosystem where every community must grow — not just the college town and not just the industrial hub.

PILLAR 1 — COMMUNITY STABILIZATION FIRST (COUNTYWIDE)

Economic development must begin with strengthening the communities already here.

1. Behavioral Health System (BHRS) Overhaul

Every city and rural town receives:

Mobile crisis response
Community paramedicine
Local stabilization sites (Los Banos, Livingston, Winton)
Psychiatric tech pipeline
School-based crisis navigation
Cultural/linguistic outreach teams

2. Countywide Housing Stabilization

Housing tied to local wages, not Bay Area AMI.

Los Banos, Livingston, and Delhi targeted for rent protections
Workforce housing near major employment centers
Community Land Trust expansion in Winton, Planada
Anti-speculation protections to prevent investor buy-ups

3. Infrastructure Before Annexation

South Merced grocery access
Sidewalks, drainage, and lighting in Delhi, Winton, Le Grand
Broadband expansion for the Eastside and Westside
Accessible transit connecting the entire county

PILLAR 2 — UC MERCED AS AN ENGINE OF OPPORTUNITY (NOT DISPLACEMENT)

UC Merced becomes a research and career mobility engine for every community.

1. Countywide Talent Pipeline

Merced College → UC Merced transfer bridge
Adult education pipeline (Delhi, Livingston, Los Banos)
Paid apprenticeships in research labs
Non-degree microcredentials
Telepresence classrooms for rural towns

2. Rural Research Applications

UC Merced research expands into:

water systems
climate resilience
agriculture
health equity
renewable energy
rural STEM models

Research becomes a countywide benefit — not an isolated bubble.

3. UC MERCED + AFSCME “Economic Stability Compact”

To reduce campus–labor tensions:

local hiring priorities
predictable training ladders
wage floors tied to Merced cost of living
UC–AFSCME partnership council with county representation
joint “Rural Respect” campaign honoring service workers

PILLAR 3 — CASTLE COMMERCE CENTER AS A COUNTY INDUSTRIAL HUB

Castle must serve:

✔ Los Banos workforce
✔ Livingston/Delhi workforce
✔ Winton/Atwater workforce
✔ Merced City workforce
✔ Veterans
✔ Returning citizens

1. Advanced Manufacturing + Ag-Tech

EV components
Agricultural automation
Cold-chain logistics
Drone-supported agriculture
Aerospace maintenance

2. Countywide Workforce Pipelines

Merced College + AFSCME + UC Merced + Castle employers create:

CDL programs in Los Banos
Manufacturing training in Livingston
Aviation tech in Atwater
Robotics pathways tied to UC Merced

3. Castle–Community Benefit Agreements

For all companies:

hire Merced County first
pay wage floors
fund training
commit to anti-displacement zoning
support BHRS collaboration

PILLAR 4 — AGRICULTURE + SCIENCE = MERCED’S ECONOMIC NICHE

Ag-tech must be distributed countywide:

1. Westside Innovation Hub (Los Banos + Dos Palos)

water research pilots
precision farming labs
dairy and cattle-tech integration
Valley Rail logistics connection

2. Livingston–Delhi Labor Corridor

meat-processing modernization
worker safety innovation
multilingual certification programs
school-to-apprenticeship partnerships

3. Eastside Resilience District (Planada–Le Grand–Winton)

flood mitigation
climate adaptation pilots
rural entrepreneurship incubators
mobile BHRS stations

PILLAR 5 — SMALL BUSINESS + IMMIGRANT ECONOMY PROTECTION

Small business = county identity.

1. Legacy Business Protection Zones

Targeted for:

Livingston
Merced south side
Los Banos downtown
Winton
Planada

2. Micro-grants + Licensing Support

Especially for:

Latino
Punjabi
Portuguese
Hmong
Yemeni
Oaxacan

entrepreneurs.

3. Countywide “Local First” Procurement

UC Merced, Castle, County, and City agencies buy local.

PILLAR 6 — COUNTY-WIDE CONNECTIVITY: TRANSPORTATION THAT SERVES WORKERS

✔ Westside express shuttle

(For Los Banos workers who currently commute 2–3 hours)

✔ Industrial corridor transit (Livingston–Delhi–Atwater–Castle)

✔ UC Merced–Castle–Merced City circulator

✔ Rural microtransit for Winton, Le Grand, Planada

PILLAR 7 — TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND LOCAL CONTROL

This is the backbone of rural democracy.

1. Public Land Ownership Maps

Countywide parcel transparency.

2. Annual BHRS Audit

By Civil Grand Jury + State OAC partnership.

3. Community Stability Impact Reports

Required before:

annexations
rezoning
major UC expansions
Castle development deals

4. Countywide CEDS Advisory Council

Includes residents from:

Los Banos
Livingston
Delhi
Planada
Winton
Atwater
Merced City

Not just city elites or large developers.

FINAL STATEMENT

This countywide CEDS plan rejects the old idea that Merced City can grow while the rest of the county watches.