Merced County Community and Economic Development

Who Knew? No two days are ever the same out at Castle. One day it’s military touch-and-go operations on the runway, the next it’s blimps flying in, autonomous vehicle testing, or groundbreaking research and development happening right here in Merced County.

Watching the Inland Port continue to take shape while innovation, aviation, rail, and technology all come together in one place is pretty incredible. Castle has such a unique history, but it’s also exciting to see it becoming a hub for the future of transportation, logistics, and advanced technology.

Every day brings something new!

The Merced County Community and Economic Development Department had the opportunity to speak yesterday at University of California, Merced about entrepreneurship and how accessible it is to start a business in Merced County.

We were excited to see a full room of engaged students who asked thoughtful questions and showed genuine interest in launching their own ventures. It’s encouraging to see entrepreneurship gaining momentum among new graduates, and it speaks to the growing innovation and opportunity right here in our region.

This is a great opportunity to:
• Build relationships with UC Merced faculty and research innovators
• Network with industry peers, investors, and regional resource providers
• Explore emerging technologies and industry-ready innovations with commercialization potential

Merced to Market will take place on April 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the UC Merced campus. The day includes curated networking, innovation showcases, and opportunities to connect directly with teams working on real-world solutions. Breakfast, lunch, and parking are provided.

I hope you’ll consider joining us in Merced and being part of these conversations. You can find more details and register here:
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Merced 2 Market 2026 | Office of Technology, Innovation, and Industry Relations Starts in DAYS, HOURS on April 16th, 2026! Register for Merced 2 Market here! Agenda Download Agenda Here (PDF) Location: UC Merced Conference Center, 5200 N Lake Rd, Merced, CA 95340 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM || Registration 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM || Opening Remarks 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM || UC Merced Innovato...