St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC) is excited to announce that the groundbreaking for the Advanced Manufacturing Training Lab will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. on the SCTCC campus.
SCTCC was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration in 2020 to develop the lab. The College has committed additional dollars to the project, which is expected to be complete in 2023.
The Advanced Manufacturing Training Lab at SCTCC will expand and renovate current space, install state-of-the-art equipment, and create a learning environment for students that will mirror their experience while working in industry. The programs that will benefit from the lab include: CNC and Advanced Machining; Computer-Aided Design Manufacturing; Computer-Aided Mechanical Design; Energy & Electronics; and Welding/Fabrication.
“This grant provides critical funding to help SCTCC meet the needs of our students and the greater St. Cloud community,” said Interim Pres. Kloos. “The College is excited to enhance the student experience through updated technology and expanded access. We look forward to continuing to serve as a key component in the region’s manufacturing industry and providing an improved experience for SCTCC graduates entering the workforce and advancing an essential economic sector.”
In addition to improved facilities for SCTCC programs, the lab will expand training opportunities for those currently in the workforce, which will support the creation and retention of high-quality, in-demand jobs throughout the St. Cloud region, particularly for unemployed and underemployed.
“SCTCC is central to our ability to maintain and grow our business, thereby ensuring an ability to maintain our employee base of roughly 1,000 people,” stated President and COO Greg Flint of Coldspring. “In order to continue with the momentum that we’ve developed, we support the increased training capacity that the new space will offer and the possibilities for our current and future employees to learn advanced skills on updated equipment. It’s vital!”
The Advanced Manufacturing Training Lab will leverage regional assets and support the implementation of regional economic development strategies designed to create jobs, leverage private capital, encourage economic development, and strengthen the region’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.
The groundbreaking for the Advanced Manufacturing Training Lab will include a short program at 1 p.m. with comments from U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis and Interim Pres. Kloos. The program will be livestreamed via YouTube.
Park in Lot A and enter Door 6. Campus maps can be found at sctcc.edu/maps.