City and state leaders joined the College of Southern Nevada on Wednesday to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Workforce and Education Training Center in the Historic Westside.
The $6.9 million, 15,000 sq.ft facility, built adjacent to the community’s first integrated school the Historic Westside School, was funded in part by the largest U.S. Economic Development Administration grant awarded in Nevada, along with $1.5 million from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s Workforce Innovations for the New Nevada (WINN) Fund. The City of Las Vegas owns the property, and CSN will operate the center through a lease.
“WETC is the cornerstone of this historic property,” said Ward 5 Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong. “This center is the engagement ring, it’s the promise. Now begins the marriage, and I’m excited to have this in my community serving my neighborhood.”
When fully open in 2026, the center will provide programs in healthcare, information technology, logistics, construction and advanced manufacturing. Adult basic education, English as a Second Language, career navigation, academic coaching, scholarship support, bridge programs and credit pathways will also be available.
Youth programming will include K-12 engagement, dual enrollment, STEM camps, career and technical education previews, mentorship, personal enrichment, and parent and guardian engagement.
“Every trajectory should lead to something after high school,” said Dr. James McCoy, CSN’s executive vice president of academic affairs. “These stackable credentials are like a Lego set. They plug into a two- or four-year degree, changing perspectives and creating socioeconomic equity. Education is what changes lives.”
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto noted that the project traces its roots back to federal funding aimed at revitalizing underserved communities.
“CARES Act funding included dollars for communities in Nevada, and years later, we are standing in front of the funding that’s going to make a difference,” Cortez Masto said.
Tammy Malich, City of Las Vegas youth development and social innovation director, said the project is vital for the region’s workforce.
“This is pivotal in our city,” Malich said. “Labor trades and workers are aging out. WETC will be a multigenerational approach to life-changing opportunities for generations to come.”
The project is the result of a true collaborative partnership between the City of Las Vegas, the Governor’s Office, and community leaders who worked together to bring this vision to life.
The center’s development will take place in phases. Phase one has been completed, with a soft opening planned for October and a grand opening scheduled for January 2026.
“Ten- to 16-week classes will give our students the most recent exposure to industry standards,” said Stavan Corbett, director of the division of workforce and economic development for CSN.
Today’s ribbon cutting was just the beginning. View photos and read more about the Workforce and Education Training Center below:
