A new 12,000-square-foot trades education facility at Centralia College is expected to make a big impact as it opens, and lawmakers representing the 20th Legislative District got a chance to tour it Wednesday morning.
The project broke ground and was constructed this year, according to a news release from Washington state House Republicans.
The college says the Southwest Flexible Training (SWFT) Center houses a variety of equipment to teach students as part of its vision to address employer demand in the area.
“Our community, region and state are in a better position to meet the current and future needs of our students, workers and employers because of the SWFT,” said Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, in a statement.
He attended the tour alongside state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and state Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama.
Abbarno said the college is “blazing a trail of opportunities” by identifying and meeting current workforce and industry leaders through projects such as these.
The SWFT Center consists of three fully-equipped classrooms and a large flexible space which has the ability to house any kind of equipment for industrial training.
Simulators focused on topics such as commercial driver’s licenses and forestry will be housed in the building, according to House Republicans. One of the three classrooms will be used for health care courses, such as EMT and CPR training, and SWFT also features a mobile classroom for CTE students that will travel around the region.
The facility was made possible thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the TransAlta Coal Transition Board awarded in February 2019, according to the college.
“Successful communities start with a quality education that addresses the needs of students and employers, and looks beyond just current needs … The SWFT Center is part of the foundation we need to be successful in Lewis County and Southwest Washington,” said Abbarno, who was also at the groundbreaking ceremony last March.
As a member of the House Capital Budget Committee, Abbarno helped secure $512.3 million in the statewide community college system, including $3.4 million for a teacher education and family development center, and other improvements at Centralia College.
He also co-sponsored House Bill 1536, relating to establishing regional apprenticeship programs through educational service districts. He sponsored the USA amendment during the 2021 session that would have invested in apprenticeships and trade training programs.
The 20th District lawmakers were accompanied during Wednesday's tour by Centralia College President Bob Mohrbacher, Centralia College Foundation Director Christine Fossett, Dean of Instruction Jay Fay and several others.
