March 19, 2026
Aurora, Colo. – The Community College of Aurora (CCA) has surpassed the fundraising goal for its Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), marking a major milestone in the college’s first-ever capital campaign. On Feb. 3, the federal government passed a law that devotes $919,000 in federal funding for CAST. The funding brought the campaign’s total to $18,369,064, exceeding the original $18 million goal. The funding will support equipment for STEM labs, an HVAC Mobile Lab, a Concrete and Soil Mechanics Mobile Lab, and tools for expanding heavy equipment and trucking technician programs.
The campaign, launched in 2022, brought together leaders from industry and philanthropy to support workforce-focused education in Colorado. Initial campaign leadership included Bruce Wagner, CEO of Wagner Equipment Co.; George Eidsness, President of Transwest Trucks Trailers RV, and Pat Hamill, Chair of BuildStrong Foundation. In Fall 2023, Civitas Resources signed on as an additional campaign leader. In total, 44 total donors contributed to the project.
Hamill said the campaign reflects the power of collaboration across sectors. “When the public, private, and nonprofit sectors work together, real change happens,” said Hamill. “CCA has leveraged the campaign leadership’s initial $2 million investment by more than nine times! This investment in the Community College of Aurora and BuildStrong Academy will create jobs, strengthen our workforce, and improve lives across Colorado.”
Eidsness also spoke to the power of collaboration, highlighting CCA as a partner of choice for industry leaders. “I felt privileged to be able to support this initiative from the ground floor. CCA provides an affordable education working alongside sponsoring businesses that almost guarantees the students success acquiring a job upon completion,” said Eidsness. “It is by far the best tech training program that I have ever been involved with.”
CAST serves as the modern hub for CCA’s STEM and skilled trades programs, including construction programs offered in partnership with BuildStrong Academy of Colorado. The 50,000-square-foot facility opened in October 2025, marking the first new building constructed at CCA’s CentreTech campus in nearly two decades.
“This investment represents more than new resources for the Community College of Aurora — it represents expanded opportunity for the students and communities we serve,” said CCA President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee. “The Center for Applied Science and Technology will strengthen our ability to prepare learners for high-demand careers while supporting the workforce needs of Aurora and the broader Colorado economy. We are deeply grateful to our congressional representatives, who make it possible for institutions like CCA to continue building pathways that connect education, talent, and economic mobility.”
Students at CAST benefit from the new facilities and instructional equipment, including a diesel mechanics bay, construction workshops, and specialized laboratory classrooms designed to mirror real-world industry settings. These spaces help students gain practical skills while meeting the growing workforce needs of Colorado’s construction, technology and energy sectors. The facility also reflects CCA’s broader commitment to innovation and workforce development. Following the opening of CAST, the state designated CCA a Career-Connected Campus and a national research organization awarded CCA its Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.
As demand for skilled workers continues to grow across Colorado, CAST demonstrates how partnerships between higher education, industry and government can expand opportunity while strengthening the state’s economy. With the successful completion of its capital campaign, CCA is positioned to continue building pathways that connect students to high-demand careers and help communities thrive.
About the Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora, Centennial, and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on three (3) campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent-enrollment programs. For more information, visitwww.ccaurora.edu.
Contact:
Courtney Butler
Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Special Initiatives
Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201 | E: [email protected]