A WTC Student, Alumni, and Industry Partner Demonstration at the Seattle Colleges Board of Trustees last year (Image: WTC)
As budget concerns continue to ripple through education and Seattle’s city college system, a corporate gift will help the Central District’s Wood Technology Center as part of a national campaign to boost skilled trades careers.
The Lowe’s Foundation has announced a $750,000 gift to the Seattle Colleges system’s 23rd Ave facility that officials said to add staffing at the center, “particularly for student recruitment, retention and outplacement.” The funds will also support a site manager to coordinate center logistics, “which will become increasingly complex as programs grow in coming years, partly through this grant.”
Lowe’s says the Seattle Colleges system is among 11 community colleges nationwide being supported in the first wave of the foundation’s five-year, $50 million commitment to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
The grant comes as Seattle Colleges has been faced with concerns over possible cuts and belt tightening in programs like Seattle Central’s Culinary Academy and Apparel Design and Development school.
Cutbacks and closures have also been a worry at the Wood Technology Center campus in the Central District at 23rd and Lane. The center offers training in the building trades including programs in residential carpentry and boat building and repair.
The center recently added a new nine-month certificate program in residential construction. The center’s programs “have a strong focus on inclusivity, with growing percentages of students who are women and people of color,” the school says.
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I keep wondering why Nordstrom, Tommy Bahama, Eddie Bauer, etc, aren’t giving massive gifts to the college’s apparel program. Seattle is the 4th largest apparel market in the US; brands should support students learning the hard skills that allow the fashion industry to thrive here.
Good idea. When I tried to get into the design program at Seattle Central a few years ago it seemed like I heard Nordstrom, and how they benefited from hiring students out of the program, mentioned often. But I can’t find a record of gifts to there (but Nordstrom does do many local scholarships via United Way)
Also don’t forget Amazon – possibly the biggest fashion designer & retailer in town