Howard Community College has landed two major gifts totaling $1.2 million to support construction and programming of its Workforce Development and Skilled Trades Center (WDTC), a historic project that will break ground this fall. A Columbia-based family donated $1 million and Apple Ford Lincoln of Columbia committed $200,000 to the WDTC.

The gift will support the building of the 50,000 square foot facility that will train future professionals in welding, plumbing, HVAC, automotive trades, and more.

The shortage of skilled workers in trades and technical fields is a pressing challenge in today’s economy. According to college leaders, the center will play a pivotal role in addressing this gap by equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in high-demand careers. Students from all backgrounds will have opportunities closer to home to gain valuable skills, achieve financial stability, and a pathway to success.

Maryland is an emerging national leader in green industrial evolution. From automotive manufacturing to sustainable approaches to construction, the state and its corporations will need a workforce that is agile towards changing technology and environmental laws. Howard Community College seeks to be the leading industry partner in helping corporations set expectations for hiring, retaining, and developing entry-level and managerial talent in these areas.

The WDTC will be the second project to break ground in three years at the college, following the 160,000 square foot Kahlert Foundation Complex, which will open in January 2025. The complex is a hybrid facility that will house HCC’s mathematics department, and its training and competition facilities for men’s and women’s basketball. The complex is named for The Kahlert Foundation, which donated $2 million to the college in 2022 – the largest gift in the history of the college.

Howard Community College was recently named among the nation’s top two-year colleges by Niche, an online college selection and data resource for families. HCC ranked No. 92 among all two-year institutions and the top community college in the Baltimore metropolitan area. HCC enrolls nearly 22,000 credit and non-credit students of all ages from more than 104 countries and yields more than $343 million in economic impact as one of Howard County’s largest employers.