<< Previous   of   Next >> Jenny Marin / EvCC  (click to enlarge) Everett Community College trustees Bob Bolerjack (from left) and Gigi Burke, EvCC President David Beyer, trustee Betty Cobbs and Corporate and Continuing Education Center executive director John Bonner cut the ceremonial ribbon to celebrate reopening of EvCC's newly renovated Corporate and Continuing Education Center Feb. 4 in south Everett. Kurt Batdorf / HBJ  (click to enlarge) An open house Feb. 4 at Everett Community College's Corporate and Continuing Education Center in south Everett attracted dozens of people. Here, they mingle in a classroom before college officials performed a ceremonial ribbon cutting to open the remodeled building.

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CONTACT HBJ Kurt Batdorf, Editor kbatdorf@heraldnet.com

EvCC unveils revamped corporate ed center

By Kurt Batdorf
HBJ Editor

EVERETT — Everett Community College officially pulled the wraps off its revamped Corporate and Continuing Education Center during an open house Feb. 4.

The center at 2333 Seaway Blvd., within walking distance of Boeing's giant factory, boasts 16 classrooms with four computer labs. The 26,000-square-foot building itself had enough space for the college's purposes, but its 1986-vintage heating and ventilation systems were failing and its technology infrastructure was sorely out of date, CECC executive director John Bonner said at the open house.

EvCC has long invested in training programs for businesses and local industries. CECC's certificate and training programs have grown in popularity, but the building needed an upgrade to its technology and layout, Bonner said.

It cost $4 million to gut the building, which brought in new boilers for heat, wired the building for the computer age and rearranged the lobby and stairway. It was cheaper to remodel the building than start from scratch, he said.

"It's a great building," Bonner said. "The bones are good."

CECC director Ray Kubista said the self-supporting program will repay the college's investment over 20 years. Classes returned to the center Jan. 7 after several months spread out at other facilities around south Everett.

The center's programs provide short-term industry training on site or at employers who want to meet strategic workforce goals, Bonner said. Programs cover aerospace, aviation, electronics, human resources, manufacturing, project management, computer software programs and more. A Small Business Accelerator helps entrepreneurs get their business to the next level.

CECC has a couple hundred instructors, Bonner said. Many of them are full-time industry professionals who share their specific expertise and knowledge.

Business owners can learn about a free consultation by going to www.everettcc.edu/ccec, emailing trainingsolutions@everettcc.edu or by calling 425-267-0162.