The county Board of Commissioners on Monday will consider giving drug company Merck $2 million in economic incentives to expand its Durham facility, adding 150 to 180 jobs. (The full agenda for Monday should be posted soon.)

County staffers have recommended that the board approve the proposal. The board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at its chambers on the second floor of 200 E. Main St., and then they'll vote.

Drug manufacturer Merck and Co. has given $30,000 to Durham Technical Community College for faculty development initiatives.

The gift is a result of a partnership between Merck and Durham Tech's Biotechnology/BioWork program.

"As new laboratory techniques and processes become standard in the industry, faculty must possess cutting-edge skills to prepare students," said Ingrid Charles, director of Durham Tech’s BioWork/BioPharma program, said in a news release.

"Merck’s gift will ultimately mean a larger pool of skilled employees for the predicted growth in the biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing fields."

Merck recently announced plans for a third phase of expansion of its new vaccine plant in Durham and eventually plans to add 400 new jobs.