AURORA | Colorado Rep. Jason Crow joined educators at Community College of Aurora Monday in celebrating an $850,000 infusion from Congress to help build a new STEM building.
Crow presented an oversized check to the community college leaders during a brief presentation at the school. The money will go toward funding the college’s latest project — building a new STEM building. Crow secured the money from congressional appropriations.
He spoke about the importance of community colleges and their role in career development for new industries. He also mentioned how students will now often change careers and learn new skills rather than stay at the same job for decades.
He said that instead of moving up the “career ladder,” people have a “career mosaic.” And in order for people to pursue other careers, they learn new skills.
“The community college system is going to be essential, absolutely essential to making that happen,” Crow said.
The new Center for STEM, Power Mechanics and Applied Technologies is being built at the community college’s Centretech campus. The new building is the community college’s first new building in nearly two decades, and is slated to open in the fall of 2025. The school broke ground for the building in September of 2022.
The center will encompass about 55,000 square feet and will house an upgraded and expanded diesel technology program as well as educational programs in various fields like solar energy and construction.
In addition to the congressional contribution, Arapahoe County also allocated $3.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to the community college for this project. Tens of thousands of dollars were also raised through the college’s fundraising efforts.
On Monday, CCA President Mordecai Brownlee said that the college has now raised $16.4 million for the new building.
Interesting leadership picture – are there no women in leadership at CCA?