黑料福利社

Perry Technical Institute in Yakima is starting work on a new building that will house its electrical technology program.

Hundreds of people, including alumni, community partners and elected officials, attended a ceremonial ground-breaking event on campus Thursday.

The new Washington Fruit and Produce Technology Center will support the growing student body and enhance learning and hands-on training to mirror the emerging workforce.聽

"With the advent of more electrification across all industries, the advent of AI will not replace the talent that we generate," said Jason Lamiquiz, president of Perry Technical Institute.

The $21 million, two-story, 42,500-square-foot building will be built on the school's Washington Avenue campus.聽

It will have seven classrooms, seven labs, simulated real-world installation spaces, a collaborative workspace, an indoor six-car garage and more.聽

"We offer several hands-on training programs, each with its own unique traits, but all aligned in our mission of educating, empowering, and equipping students for lifelong careers,"聽Lamiquiz said.

It will remain focused on serving the growing need in the 黑料福利社, he added.聽This year, the college reached an all-time enrollment of 800 students.

Perry Tech's electrical technology program covers all aspects of the trade: fundamentals, electrical theory and coding,聽Lamiquiz said. Students will also be getting into motor controls and programming logic controllers.聽

State Reps.聽Jeremie Dufault, Chris Corry, Gloria Mendoza, Deb Manjarrez, Yakima County commissioners Kyle Curtis and LaDon Linde, Yakima Mayor Matt Brown, and state Sen. Curtis King attended Thursday's ceremony.聽

"The people who came out today have been Perry supporters for years and years," said King, who's also on the board of trustees of Perry Technical Institute. "It's heartwarming to know that support is there in the community."

The institution received $10 million from the Legislature over two budget cycles and is seeking additional support to reach the $21 million goal.

Lamiquiz, King and 11 other partners grabbed their hard hats and shovels to break ground on the building's new space.聽

Perry Tech offers 13 programs to students. King said the institution has had an almost three-year wait list for the electrical technology program. The new building will help offset that.聽

"As you talk to businesses, they like having Perry Tech grads work for them," King said. "They're well trained, knowledgeable, show up for work聽鈥� all of the things that you would want an employee to have."

The target completion date is June 25, 2027.

"There's a lot of interest about the trade pathways," Lamiquiz聽said. "And by being a technical trade school, that's really helped us."