St. Charles Community College (SCC) is on the hunt for a Warren County location to lease for technical training programs.The college is seeking a facility to offer training needed by local manufacturers and employers in need of skilled workers.“SCC’s goal is to offer programming to support in-demand career pathways in the areas of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, industrial maintenance and controls, and transportation and logistics,” said Amanda Sizemore, SCC’s assistant vice president for corporate and community development.Sizemore said plans for programming in Warren County will open enrollment opportunities, as well as partnerships with local organizations. That includes working with businesses, schools and community agencies to identify workforce needs and address them.SCC has expanded its interaction with Warren County over the last year. In August 2018, the community college accepted the Warren County R-III and Wright City R-II school districts into SCC’s extended service region. School officials at the time said that would mean opportunities for limited educational partnerships in the two communities.The search for a lease is happening at the same time that SCC is asking voters in the two school districts to approve full annexation into the college’s larger district. That would include paying SCC’s property tax of 16.66 cents per $100 assessed property valuation.The proposed annexation and tax will be on November ballots as Proposition J.Todd Galbierz, SCC vice president for administrative services and COO, said a leased facility will address the immediate needs expressed by local business owners, while Prop J will provide longer-term benefits.“There is a sense of urgency to begin addressing the technical training needs in Warren County. A leased facility will get a small number of programs started,” Galbierz explained. “Prop J provides permanency, larger student capacity and more program offerings.”Once SCC can secure a lease, Galbierz said technical training programs will begin as soon as possible. The timing of when that will happen will depend on how much work the space needs to provide those programs.“It would be great to welcome students to this facility starting in January 2020,” Galbierz said.The primary local advocates for bringing SCC tech programs to the area have been the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council (GWCEDC), an organization of local business and government representatives.Advocates with the GWCEDC have highlighted a shortage of skilled workers as one of the primary business concerns in Warren County. The organization says bringing tech programs to the area will help support existing businesses and attract new employers looking for specific skills.“The need for training programs exists today, and the sooner a training solution can be implemented the more benefits our region will receive,” GWCEDC representatives said. “This leased facility is a demonstration of the commitment by SCC to our community and businesses to address the critical training needs.”SCC is distributing a request for proposals for a building lease through local economic groups. The document states SCC is seeking facility proposals by Sept. 30. It hopes to begin the lease by mid-November.The college is seeking a two-year lease, with options to extend the lease or purchase the leased facility at any time. The requested size for the facility is about 15,000 square feet.Facility specifications include adequate electrical service for 10 or more welding stations and proper ventilation for welding or other industrial programs. SCC said it also desires adequate paved area for possible driver training, and for the location to have easy access and visibility from Interstate 70.St. Charles Community College SCC logo