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11-08-2025 8:15 am • PDX and SEA Weather
MLK Breakfast
Clark College will host a Mechatronics Open House from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10 at the Columbia Tech Center, 18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd in Vancouver. Visitors can take a hands-on tour of the facility, meet instructors, explore industry equipment, and learn about this fast-growing field. This event is open to the public; high school students and anyone interested in a career in mechatronics are encouraged to attend.
High-tech and advanced manufacturing rely on cutting-edge technologies and complex systems that integraterobotics, mechanics, and automation. These advancements increase efficiency, streamline production, and power the creation of high-tech products like computer chips, electric vehicles, and clean energy components.
Mechatronics integrates mechanical and electronic components managed by a control system. Mechatronics technicians troubleshoot, maintain, and repair mechanical equipment controlled by electrical, electronic, and computer systems. These systems are increasingly used in a wide range of industries—such as a variety of manufacturing and related technical applications such as high technology.
High-tech manufacturing jobs such as mechatronics are on the rise in Southwest Washington—manufacturing accounts for more than 11% of our state’s gross product and employs nearly 300,000 people. Clark and other community colleges play a key role in building the pipeline for a well-trained, locally rooted workforce.
In 2021, Washington passed the Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing (BEST) Act, setting a goal to double the state’s manufacturing base by 2031 with a focus on equity. The BEST Act, along with subsequent legislation, introduced tax incentives and streamlined siting and permitting, supporting the growth of in-state production of clean energy and other advanced manufacturing products across the state.
Nationally, the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 is fueling demand for skilled high-tech manufacturing jobs—including mechatronics—by strengthening U.S. semiconductor production, securing supply chains, and bolstering economic and national security. Washington, a top state for semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in Southwest Washington, sees this investment to drive family-wage jobs and expand career opportunities across the region.
Clark’s Mechatronics program emphasizes current concepts and technology through practical, hands-on training with industry-standard equipment. Students receive real-world, state-approved technical instruction from experienced faculty. Graduates can earn an Associate in Applied Technology (AAT) degree in Mechanical and Instrumentation Automation in two years. Learn more about Mechatronics at Clark College here.
