By SCOTT AUST / Greater Garden City
Garden City Community College broke ground Tuesday on a $3.1 million, 11,350 square feet construction trades center that will expand workforce training and help meet growing demand for skilled trade professionals in southwest Kansas.
“Today really is a remarkable day for our college, our students, and our industry partners as well as our community. We gather not only to break ground on a new building, but to lay the foundation for future generations of skilled workers, leaders, and innovators who will help build and power our region for years to come,” GCCC President Ryan Ruda said.
Security State Bank secured the naming rights opportunity through a sizeable investment in career-focused education at GCCC, demonstrating a shared commitment to workforce development and student success.
The Security State Bank Construction Trades Center will feature modern instructional and hands-on training space for construction technology and electrical technology, helping prepare students for high-demand careers throughout the region. The space will feature two large shop areas, educational spaces, faculty offices, and tool and material storage areas.
Ruda said the center represents far more than concrete and steel – it represents opportunity, workforce development and the college’s commitment to ensuring students have access to high-quality education and hands-on learning that will lead to meaningful careers across the region and throughout Kansas.
Employers continue to express the growing need for skilled workers in construction and electrical trade, Ruda said.
Construction-related occupations are projected to grow by approximately 12% in southwest Kansas over the next decade, outpacing many comparable rural regions. Locally, Finney County estimates a need for more than 4,000 new housing units by 2030 to support continued economic growth and workforce expansion.
The new facility will help address these workforce needs by expanding educational opportunities for high school dual-credit students, traditional college students, and adult learners seeking retraining or career advancement opportunities in the skilled trades.
“The demand is real and the opportunities are abundant,” Ruda said. “This facility is our response to that need. It will provide students with modern learning environments, industry standard equipment, and practical experiences that prepare them to enter the workforce with confidence and the skills that employers need.”
GCCC’s Construction Technology and Electrical Technology programs provide stackable, industry-aligned credentials that create clear pathways into high-demand careers in skilled trades.
The center is expected to be completed in December 2026 in partnership with GMCN Architects and Hutton Construction.
The project has been in development for more than two years, with funding secured entirely through private donations, grants, and tax credits. No levied tax dollars will be used to fund the facility.
“Projects like this do not happen by accident. They happen because of vision, collaboration, and generosity,” Ruda said. “So today I would like to extend my gratitude to the many individuals, organizations, and partners who have helped make this project a reality. To our donors and supporters, I want to thank you for believing in the power of education and investing in the future of our students.”
Ruda thanked Security State Bank, Finnup Foundation, Patterson Foundation, individual donors who contributed through tax credit donations, Finney County, City of Garden City, Finney County Economic Development, Sen. Jerry Moran for securing federal dollars, First Assembly of God for their collaboration and assistance with the land for the facility, the GCCC Board of Trustees. GCCC faculty and staff, GMCN Architects, Hutton Construction, Southwest Kansas Builders Association, and Triple Oak.
Most importantly, Ruda said, current and future GCCC students should know that the center is being built with them in mind. Years from now, when students walk through the doors of the facility, they may never know all the meetings, planning, fundraising efforts, and partnerships that brought the project together, but they will benefit from the commitment and vision of everybody involved.
“This center is being built for you. It is designed to help you discover your talents, develop your skills, and pursue careers that provide stability, purpose and opportunity to make a difference in your communities,” he said.
Groundbreaking ceremonies are ultimately about possibility, Ruda said.
“Today we celebrate the beginning of something significant, a place where futures will be built, careers will be launched, and lives will be transformed. Thank you for joining us on this exciting day,” he said. “We look forward to watching the vision rise from the ground and become a lasting symbol of opportunity, workforce excellence, and community partnership.
For more information about GCCC’s Construction Trades programs, visit www.gcccks.edu or call GCCC Admissions at 620-276-7611.
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