The KRESA Career Center will be a centralized facility that hosts the majority of the county’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Courses at the Career Center will offer specific skill training and certifications for high school students in high-demand areas based on state and local market analysis and input. Of Michigan’s economically similar labor markets, Kalamazoo County is the only market that does not currently have a career center.

The Career Center will be a place where realistic work environments, difficult to duplicate in a traditional school setting, will be replicated to provide a real-world work experience. Other programs will be located in smaller satellite specialty locations. Having a centralized location will resolve many of the county’s current logistical barriers to enrollment, such as transportation, and allow for better integration of academic curricula applied, upkeep of necessary equipment, and a more inclusive, work-oriented culture.