Maricopa Skill Center (MSC) is scheduled to open its new Northwest campus this fall at 2931 W. Bell Rd. to serve the needs of the Northwest Valley. The satellite campus will offer certificate programs in the career fields of cosmetology, business and technology, health care, and trades. The additional site resulted from the employment needs of Northwest Valley businesses, school districts, residents and community agencies. MSC is a vocational school, which specializes in short-term workforce training and is a division of GateWay Community College, one of the Maricopa Community Colleges.
“Often we heard from our business and community partners in the Northwest Valley that they felt there was a need for our programs, but the commute for residents to our main campus in Central Phoenix wasn’t convenient, especially if they used public transportation,” said Sue Kater, acting executive director at MSC. “Their reply was, ‘We love what you do, but we can’t get students to you.’”
Since 2000, MSC has been planning for ways to bring its unique vocational training to the Northwest Valley. Community groups, such as the Anthem Community Council, and research on workforce development trends indicate that Northwest Valley businesses and residents have a need for the skills and training opportunities that MSC’s programs provide.
MSC offers students a quick and affordable path to a career. Most programs can be completed within a year, and curriculum is designed with input from industry employers, to ensure students have the skills needed to become and remain employed.
Members of MSC’s Workforce Development Department are actively reaching out to Northwest Valley businesses. Rainie Dionne, manager of Workforce Development at MSC, says that the Northwest Valley has an immediate need for employees in the health care and customer service industries. However, MSC is also thinking of the future.
“Our long-term goal is to have open communication between MSC and the Northwest Valley business community,” said Dionne. “We want the business community to collaborate with us on our programs so we can tailor them to meet their workforce and training needs – now and in the future.”
The Maricopa Community Colleges’ Governing Board has approved funding for the Northwest campus, and the grand opening is scheduled for this fall.