Wake Tech Highlights Proposed Investments for Technical Training on Manufacturing Day
RALEIGH, N.C. (October 2, 2026) — On Manufacturing Day, Wake Tech is drawing attention to significant proposed investments aimed at enhancing hands-on training programs that prepare students for technical careers throughout Wake County.
The $149.1 million Wake Tech Workforce Forward Bond, which will be on the ballot on November 3rd, includes $12 million earmarked for expanding skilled trades training at Southern Wake Campus. This investment will support the expansion of welding technology, electrical systems technology, and HVAC labs in Ready Hall, along with upgrades to ventilation and cooling systems.
Additionally, $5 million is proposed to enhance the Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence at Scott Northern Wake Campus. Key upgrades would include vehicle stackers, covered parking areas, and electric vehicle charging stations to bolster training for electric vehicles as well as the Mazda MAST and MoparCAP programs.
“Wake County’s growth has created an increasing demand for skilled professionals to maintain our communities, provide care, and support economic development,” stated Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “These investments will enhance our capacity to train students for critical careers while modernizing facilities and technologies that facilitate their education.”
The skilled trades and automotive initiatives are part of a broader $41 million expansion in workforce programs. The bond also allocates $20 million for public safety training, $2 million for dental hygiene, and another $2 million for planning future expansions of the Conlon Western Wake Campus.
Beyond these specific initiatives, the proposal includes $65 million to renovate facilities at Southern Wake Campus, Wake Tech’s original site, which houses many aging buildings dating from the 1950s to the 1970s. Renovations aim to enhance spaces used for diesel and heavy equipment, engineering and architecture, and construction management. Furthermore, $43.1 million is designated for upgrading college-wide infrastructure, technology, and equipment.
“These projects address both immediate workforce requirements and the overall condition of our facilities serving students daily,” Ralls added. “They are essential for Wake Tech to continue fulfilling the needs of a rapidly growing county.”
For more details on the proposed bond, visit waketech.edu/2026bond.
