The Permian Strategic Partnership, working with other community organizations, is backing a $77 million Career and Technical Education Center at Midland College. The PSP said its $10 million investment will help expand the college's workforce training programs, provide modern training equipment and strengthen ties with local employers. Tracee Bentley, the PSP's president and CEO, said the project supports a skilled workforce for the Permian Basin.
Midland College said the center will expand its Applied Technology and Health Sciences programs and its dual-credit offerings for high school students. The college expects the center to add capacity for about 3,000 students and to offer instruction in 15 courses. The 135,000-square-foot expansion will include three standalone buildings. Programs in the energy sector, including diesel technology, heavy equipment, welding and natural gas compression, will be housed in large lab spaces.
College President Damon Kennedy said the center will also let the college convert its Advanced Technology Center into a health sciences facility, with programs such as medical assisting and licensed vocational nursing. He said about 1,000 new dual-credit students could be added in high-wage, high-demand fields. The center has been in the planning stages for three years, the college said.