York, Neb. – Southeast Community College (SCC) announced today a new partnership with York Public Schools, the York County Development Corporation and regional employers to build a Learning and Workforce Development Center adjacent to York High School. The facility will give high‑school students the chance to earn college credit on the same campus as their classrooms and provide working parents and other residents with hands‑on training for better jobs without leaving town.
Dual‑credit courses and certifications for students
According to Paul Illich, SCC president, the center will host dual‑credit courses that let York Public Schools students earn college credit while still in high school. “York has always had people willing to invest in the next generation,” Illich said. “With this Center, a high school student can earn college credit next door to their classroom, a working parent can train for a better job without leaving town, and local employers can hire people who trained right here.”
Career pathways for adults
The center will also offer career‑focused certifications for adults seeking to change careers or advance in their current fields. Programs will target the region’s growing healthcare and manufacturing sectors, which have long warned of workforce shortages. Mitch Bartholomew, superintendent of York Public Schools, called the approach “non‑traditional” and emphasized the need for local industry collaboration. “We have been in talks with SCC for quite some time about the chance for us to partner with local industry to build a skilled workforce,” Bartholomew said. “The healthcare and manufacturing industries were projecting this workforce shortage as long as 15 years ago. It’s time we address it.”
Employer involvement and regional impact
Employers across the 15‑county service area have pledged to work with SCC to shape curricula that match real‑world job requirements. By training residents locally, the partnership aims to keep talent in the community, reduce commuting burdens, and strengthen the regional economy.
Community benefits
Local leaders see the center as a model for how community colleges can serve both students and the broader workforce. The project aligns with York’s tradition of family‑focused, faith‑grounded values, offering families a practical path to economic stability while reinforcing the importance of education and hard work.
Construction of the Learning and Workforce Development Center is slated to begin later this year, with classes expected to start in the fall of 2027. The initiative reflects a growing trend of collaborative, place‑based education solutions that empower small towns to thrive in a changing economy.
Original reporting: KLKN-TV – News, Weather and Sports for Lincoln, Nebraska — read the source article.
