FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Slappy, Chief Communications and Public Relations Officer
410-386-8184 | lslappy@carrollcc.edu
Carroll Community College Celebrates $850,000 Federal Investment in New Trades Center
Carroll Community College welcomed members of Maryland’s congressional delegation on March 31st for a ceremonial check presentation celebrating $850,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) to support the development of the Ratcliffe Applied Technology and Trades Center.
The event, held on campus, featured remarks from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Congressman Johnny Olszewski, alongside College President Dr. Rosalie Mince, Vice President of Workforce, Business, and Community Education Dr. Kelly Koermer, and student speaker Corbin Gooch.
“This award is a powerful endorsement of our mission to prepare students for meaningful careers and to meet the workforce needs of our region,” said Dr. Rosalie Mince. “I want to especially recognize and thank our federal partners who championed this project, Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congressman Olszewski. We are deeply grateful for your leadership and your commitment to strengthening Maryland’s workforce through investments in community colleges. Your support for Carroll Community College demonstrates a belief in our mission and in the potential of our students.”
“Quality education opens doors to opportunity, which is why, as Baltimore County Executive, I was proud to deliver free community college for nearly every resident,” said Congressman Olszewski. “I am proud to continue building on those efforts at the federal level with this funding for Carroll Community College, resources that will give students the skills to secure good-paying jobs and meaningfully contribute to our economy.”
Student speaker Corbin Gooch, a plumbing apprentice at Apple Plumbing, Heating and Air, and a Carroll student, shared his perspective on the impact of the new center: “To learn a trade like plumbing the right way, you need more than a textbook. You need space. You need modern equipment. You need to practice on real systems, not just watch someone else do it. That’s why the Ratcliffe Applied Technology and Trades Center is such a big deal. This investment doesn’t just help students, it helps the entire community. There’s a real need for skilled trades professionals right now, and that need is only growing.”
The $850,000 in federal funding will allow the College to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the Ratcliffe Center, enabling the launch and expansion of high-demand workforce training programs in welding, automotive technology, plumbing, advanced manufacturing, and other skilled trades. The new center will address critical workforce shortages and provide students with the skills needed to secure in-demand, good-paying jobs.
The Ratcliffe Applied Technology and Trades Center is scheduled to open later this year at the College’s Airport Drive location in Westminster. The facility will serve as a regional hub for workforce development, economic growth, and community engagement.
For more information about Carroll Community College’s workforce programs, visit the webpage here.
To view Video of the check presentation, click here.
To view Photos of the check presentation, click here.
