Investor Spotlight
Columbia Career Center
This month the spotlight shines on the Columbia Career Center, an important economic development tool for the community. In addition to enrolling 2,500 career technical students from five public and two private high schools (2004-2005 school year), the Career Center continues to offer one of the most comprehensive Adult Education programs in the state. This premier non-credit adult program offers businesses one of the most cost effective means to add value to their current workforce. The Career Center has a reputation of listening to business needs and delivering targeted courses to meet those needs.
What many in the business community do not realize is the impact their utilization of the adult programs has on the Career Center’s secondary programs. One of the stories most often told by Dr. Don Bristow, Director of the Career Center, is about the Laser Technician program designed for 3M. Not only was the Career Center able to deliver a highly technical Laser training program for 3M, but this became the framework for the development of a three-year program for high school students. The Career Center now offers the only in-depth Laser/Photonics program for high school students anywhere in the world.
With the passage of a school bond issue, the Career Center hopes to continue this trend. Designed into the planned facility expansion is a new Health Science wing, expanded Adult Education offices and a new state-of-the-art corporate training facility. Also hoping to provide expanded opportunities for high school students, the Career Center is planning a new Biotechnology facility as a part of this new site plan.
For anyone who has not had a recent tour, please contact the Career Center at 886-2625 and schedule one. To quote Mike Shirk after his first tour, “Wow! I had no idea”. There are endless possibilities at the Career Center; start planning today and make the Career Center a partner in your company’s economic success.
For more information, visit www.career-center.org