Central Community College Opens New Automotive Careers Training Center
HASTINGS, Neb. — On Tuesday, Governor Pillen attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gosper Building, a new state-of-the-art Automotive Careers Training Center at Central Community College. This impressive 42,000-square-foot facility replaces an outdated 80-year-old building, which the college described as having numerous “limitations” for modern industry training.
The event attracted alumni and offers attendees a chance to tour the $23 million enhancements, showcasing advanced equipment and improvements set to benefit an expanding student body.
Nick Kelley, a First Year Automotive Instructor, highlighted the program’s growth over recent years, citing increasing enrollment and a demand for enhanced tools and instructional capacity. “There’s an increased interest in automotive technology,” he remarked, noting the advancements in car technology necessitate better training. “Many people still enjoy working on cars.”
Governor Pillen praised the new center as essential for preparing students for successful careers. He emphasized the importance of community colleges in Nebraska for workforce development, noting that programs can lead to certification in as little as eight weeks. “You’re going to have an incredible career in so many different areas as the economy and agriculture and manufacturing continue to grow,” he said during his speech.
The new facility accommodates 70 automotive students and 20 autobody students. For more information on Central Community College’s offerings in Automotive Technology and related fields, visit their website. Emma Leek reported on the groundbreaking for the project; her article can be found here.
