A new era for workforce development has begun in the region with the official opening of St. Charles Community College’s (SCC’s) new Regional Workforce Innovation Center, promising to connect students with the training and education needed for high-demand industrial trades and healthcare careers.

With a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, SCC celebrated expanding west with the opening of its new 65-plus-acre campus in Wentzville, MO. The first building on the site, the state-of-the-art Regional Workforce Innovation Center is poised to become the region’s top technical training facility.

Strategically located just off Interstate 70, the 48,000 square-foot center is focused on preparing students for high-demand careers, ranging from advanced manufacturing and robotics to sustainable energy and healthcare. Created to drive workforce development, this facility is more than just a training center, it’s a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. The building offers a combination of large-scale industrial equipment areas, classrooms, study zones, and advanced labs. To maximize every learning opportunity, the entire Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing (M.E.P.) system is color-coded for an intuitive, real-world educational experience. 

The Regional Workforce Innovation Center is a key investment in the future of the region, ensuring a workforce that’s ready for local businesses and industries.

“When I began my tenure at SCC, there was a call for action from businesses and industry leaders across the region,” said SCC President Barbara Kavalier, Ph.D. “Employers needed skilled technicians, builders, and problem solvers. In short, they needed us. As an institution with a mission to serve both our students and our region, we understood the role SCC could play in meeting that need; however, we faced one significant challenge: a lack of space. The Center provides that and is more than just a facility. It’s an investment in human potential. This new center will be the premier technical training and education center in this region.”  

SCC introduced new skilled trades programs and is currently offering associate degrees and workforce-ready certificates, including robotics, manufacturing, heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC), plumbing, machining, mechatronics, welding, nursing, and more.

In addition to providing education and training for students, the college will also have a Discovery Lab where students in middle and high school can interact with a hologram and explore new technology, such as how a 3-D printer works and operate a robotic arm.

Learning and workforce readiness at SCC’s Regional Workforce Innovation Center is enhanced by partnerships with local employers like General Motors (GM).

As an NC3 leadership school, SCC embeds industry-recognized certifications from top partners like Snap-On®, Trane®, and Lincoln Electric® directly into our curriculum. This allows students to earn credentials that highlight their skills to employers, giving them a significant advantage in the job market by using the same equipment they will encounter on the job. 

To learn more about the Regional Workforce Innovation Center, visit www.stchas.edu/rwic.