CNM breaks ground on new skilled trades facility

Central New Mexico Community College is building a $58.7 million facility for its welding, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and industrial automation technology programs.

The 61,000-square-foot facility on CNM’s main campus will have new technology to better prepare students to enter the workforce, said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. The new facility replaces Ted Chavez Hall, which was built in the 1970s.

“Historically, we think of trades in a very different way. Over time, trades have become more lab-like. The skills, the technology needed in our trades, whether it was HVAC and plumbing to air conditioning and welding, your materials are different,” Hartzler said.

The project is being funded with $15 million in state general obligation bonds, $7.6 million from the state general fund, $29.3 million from CNM local bond elections, and almost $3.8 million in CNM funds. The school will also be asking voters for $3 million to help complete the facility in the November CNM Bond Election.

Electrical program graduate Rita Johnson spoke at the facility groundbreaking Thursday about the impact CNM had on her life.

“I heard about solar photovoltaic classes and thought, that’s what I want to do. I started taking the classes and just fell in love,” Johnson said.

Ten years later, she still has a career in the trades. Johnson credited her education with changing the trajectory of her life and her kid’s life.

The new building will better meet the community and student needs, said Hartzler. Planning for the facility included input from employers, education partners, union partners, CNM alumni, legislators and economic development staff, Hartzler said.

“There’s just a great need for not only trades individuals, but also project management, design fields, architecture,” said Hartzler.

CNM saw strong enrollment gains in both the fall and spring semester last school year, the first time in many years that the school has had enrollment gains, Hartzler said.

“We know students who even have short-term training are hired, but we know that when they continue in an education or degree program, they are promoted faster, they have greater stability in economic downturns, and so the ability of our programming to change lives and to grow our communities, it’s proven,” Hartzler said.

The facility is as-yet unnamed and is scheduled to open August 2025.