Chancellor Greenwood, President Peter Smith of California State University, Monterey Bay (left), and U.S. Representative Sam Farr were among the dignitaries who participated in a teleconference with White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta at the former Fort Ord military base in September. Panetta announced a $15 million funding package from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, to continue several redevelopment efforts at Fort Ord. The UC MBEST Center, a technology initiative led by UCSC, received $1 million to construct a new facility.