HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL
Petaluma community members and leaders gathered last Saturday, April 26, to celebrate the official opening of the new Construction Training Center at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Petaluma campus. The festivities provided an opportunity to tour this dynamic new workforce training facility, as well as hear from current students about how they are applying their classroom experience to their work and home lives.
“Construction is not just a sector—it’s a catalyst that fuels job growth, supports small businesses, and drives infrastructure improvements that benefit us all,” notes City Manager Peggy Flynn, who spoke at the event. “The Training Center will enable us to bridge the gap between education and employment by providing the next generation of skilled workers with the tools, training, and confidence they need to succeed.”
The Training Center offers certificates in Carpentry, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR), Fire Resilient Landscaping, and Water Resources. Best of all, the program is free, thanks to federal grants and financial support from local individuals, businesses, and construction-related trade organizations.
Front and center at Saturday’s event was the training center’s flexible-use 10,000 square foot lab space, which is large enough to hold several classrooms, a workshop area, and racks of construction-related equipment, tools, and safety gear. The first-year cohort proudly showed off the two fully framed Accessory Dwelling Units built as part of the inaugural Carpentry Fundamentals class–and shared stories reflecting the program’s value not only for workforce and economic development but also personal transformation.
For example, one student described how her new carpentry skills are helping her expand her housecleaning business, while another discussed how much he appreciates learning how to do his construction job “the right way” thanks to the program.
Students noted that the program is welcoming as well as comprehensive: about 30 percent of the students are women, and there is Spanish interpretation available. The student body includes writers, small business owners, and high school teachers, as well as seasoned builders. Though they come from all walks of life, they are united by a shared goal of mastering the trade and contributing meaningfully to their communities. The Training Center’s location in Petaluma makes its impact especially powerful for our City.
“Developing a dependable and highly trained talent pipeline through SRJC’s Construction Training Center helps lay the economic foundation for Petaluma’s long-term prosperity and business expansion,” says City Manager Flynn. “Strong communities don’t just happen—they are built., and we are #PetalumaProud to be at the center of this transformation.”
Learn more: SRJC Construction Training