Raritan Valley Community College officially opened its expanded Workforce Training Center on Sept. 16, unveiling a $9.8 million facility that positions the college as “the first community college in New Jersey to offer hands-on training in a cleanroom environment.”
The 22,000-square-foot expansion increases the facility by more than 50 percent to a total of 65,700 square feet, allowing the college to offer programs in fields including biomanufacturing, electric vehicle technology, mechatronics and robotics, and welding.
“The expanded Workforce Training Center transforms our campus, enabling RVCC to provide students and the community with cutting-edge facilities and programs,” said college President Michael J. McDonough. “These advancements are a terrific example of the college’s innovative public-private partnerships, as we collaborate with industry to ensure that our students are well skilled and our programs keep pace with emerging workforce demands.”
The centerpiece of the expansion is the new Aseptic Biomanufacturing program, housed in a 3,180-square-foot area that features both a biotechnology lab and cleanroom.
The facility places RVCC among “a small group of colleges nationwide offering students access to cleanroom training, which is essential for the production of biopharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and semiconductors,” officials noted.
Students in the program will train for roles as cell processing specialists, aseptic production associates and manufacturing technicians through three specialized certificate programs: GMP Professional Certificate, Pharmaceutical Aseptic Cleaning Certificate and Aseptic Biomanufacturing Certificate.
The program was developed in collaboration with leading biopharmaceutical companies including Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Merck, BeOne and Cellares.
The expansion also houses the newly launched NJBioFutures coalition, a workforce development initiative aimed at creating a “talent pipeline” for New Jersey’s cell and gene therapeutics sector.
Johnson & Johnson is contributing $1 million to support curriculum development and facility modernization at RVCC, Middlesex College and Mercer County Community College.
Other specialized areas in the expansion include a 4,600-square-foot space for electric vehicle technology training. The college upgraded its automotive technology program with industry guidance from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities.
A 1,700-square-foot mechatronics and robotics space will prepare students to become production and maintenance technicians, while a 1,600-square-foot welding lab will offer stackable certificates to increase earning potential in manufacturing roles.
The expansion is funded by the state of New Jersey, Somerset County and Hunterdon County.
“By partnering with regional businesses on skillset needs, RVCC is creating a talent pipeline, providing students with valuable real-world experience in biomanufacturing, mechatronics, welding, and robotics, that will lead to employment,” said Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson.
The ceremony featured remarks from state and local officials including Sen. Andrew Zwicker, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo, and representatives from both Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
RVCC is located on Lamington Road in Branchburg.