Among those at the celebration were Rowan President Dr. Fred Keating; Steve Sweeney, vice president of the Ironworkers International Union; Congressman Donald Norcross; and Frank DiMarco, Gloucester County Commissioner Director.
Rowan College of South Jersey’s Gloucester County campus hosted a ceremony on Oct. 24 to celebrate the launch of an expansion project at the college’s Career and Technical Education Center.
The newly renovated area will cover more than 13,000 square feet, according to the college’s website, and is expected to feature two new classrooms, as well as construction and welding labs and stations focusing on HVAC, electric and plumbing. The center will provide new programs focusing on those fields.
The project is intended to help address a national labor shortage that began at the beginning of COVID in March of 2020.
“The expansion of the … center is a pivotal step in equipping our students with the necessary skills and training to thrive in today’s job market,” said Rowan President Dr. Fred Keating. “We are grateful for the support of the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners, which has made this project possible.
“Together, we are building a strong foundation for the future of our community.”
Another goal of the expansion project is to improve relations with businesses, industries and unions that are searching for candidates. Representatives from Ironworkers Union 399 in Hammonton and the Building Trades Council of Southern New Jersey were in attendance at the launch ceremony; both have a partnership with Rowan.
“Some students really don’t know what direction they want to go in,” explained Daniel Cosner of the Building Trades Council. “When you go into schools, people aren’t sure what carpenters, electricians, etc., ) really do. This partnership with Rowan is another step in that direction, of really helping students get into the pathways and careers that they need.”
Also in attendance for the ceremony were county commissioners Matt Weng, Jim Jefferson, Joann Gattinelli, Heather Simmons and Frank DiMarco, whose board helped fund the project by providing more than $7 million, according to the college.
“Investing in education is investing in the future of our community,” DiMarco offered. “We are proud to support Rowan College of South Jersey in this endeavor, which will ultimately benefit our residents and local economy by producing skilled workers ready to meet the needs of our county.”
The expansion is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026, when it is hoped more students will have a greater amount of training than ever before.
“Skilled trades people are the backbone of our economy, enabling New Jersey to build essential infrastructure and drive innovation throughout the state,” noted Steve Sweeney, vice president of Ironworkers International and former president of the state Senate.
“Investing in training for trades is not just about building skills,” he said. “It’s about creating a foundation for a sustainable future. Empowering workers with hands-on knowledge fosters innovation, strengthens our economy and ensures that we have the skilled labor needed to tackle challenges.”
