What’s happening: A Petoskey community college reached an important milestone on Monday, June 17, as the date marked the official start of the first phase of its $20 million initiative to redefine healthcare, manufacturing, and skilled trades education. North Central Michigan College’s Career and Technical Education Enhancement (CATEE) project has begun in earnest.
What it is: North Central Michigan College in Petoskey has launched its CATEE project this month, a two-phase $20 million initiative that will renovate and expand the school’s Health Education and Science Center in its first phase. The second phase, expected to begin in early 2025, will raze the school’s 59-year-old Technology Building to make room for an expanded, state-of-the-art Technology Center. It’s expected that the first phase will wrap sometime in early 2025 with the second to be completed by fall 2026.
Why it is: “CATEE is a groundbreaking investment aimed at revolutionizing education in healthcare, manufacturing and skilled trades — three dynamic sectors that are the backbone of our regional, state and national economies,” says North Central President David Roland Finley. “Data from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget tells us that nearly all the high-demand, high-wage careers available to associate degree-holders are in these critical fields.”
What’s planned: The CATEE project will renovate and expand North Central’s Health Education and Science Center, which includes a 7,200 sq. ft. addition complete with advanced classroom, clinical, simulation and lab spaces for programs. It’s expected the expansion will graduate an extra 150 healthcare professionals into the workforce each year. The new Technology Center will provide education and training for an estimated 200 students in high-demand disciplines that include robotics, engineering, welding, and computer-aided drafting and design.
What they’re saying: “Fundraising is actively underway to support this transformative initiative, and we invite others to join us in creating more opportunities for local learners,” says Chelsea Platte, vice president for Advancement and executive director of the NCMC Foundation. “Community support is key to fueling futures and transforming lives.”
Visit North Central Michigan College online to learn more about the CATEE project.
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