About Wake Tech

2026 Workforce Forward Bond

Wake County is growing, and so is the demand for skilled workers in public safety, healthcare, construction, automotive technology and other high-demand fields.

The $149.1 million Wake Tech Workforce Forward Bond would expand training in these areas while renewing classrooms, technology and infrastructure across the college. It would fund practical investments in hands-on workforce training, modern learning spaces, essential campus infrastructure and the technology students need to succeed.

Workforce programs expansions ($41 million)

1. Public safety programs expansion ($20 million)

The investment will help complete the Fire and Rescue Training Center that has been underway since 2020, building on progress made possible by the previous Wake Tech bond. The expansion at Eastern Wake Campus will add classrooms, simulation and decontamination labs, flexible training space, equipment and an apparatus bay.

Architectural rendering of Fire and Rescue Tower on Eastern Wake Campus

2. Skilled trades programs expansion ($12 million)

Funding would provide expanded Welding Technology, Electrical Systems Technology and HVAC labs in Ready Hall at the Southern Wake Campus, along with ventilation and cooling upgrades.

Hands-on training for an Electric Systems Technology student

3. Automotive programs expansion ($5 million)

Funding would expand the Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence at Scott Northern Wake Campus with vehicle stackers, covered parking and electric-vehicle charging stations to support EV training, Mazda MAST and MoparCAP programs.

Four Automotive Systems Technology students look under the hood of a vehicle.

4. Dental Hygiene program expansion ($2 million)

Funding would renovate the Perry Health Sciences Campus to create an immersive dental lecture hall, expand the dental simulation lab and modernize the Dental Hygiene Clinic.

Hands-on training for a Dental Hygiene student

5. Future expansion of Conlon Western Wake Campus ($2 million)

Funding would support planning for the future expansion of Conlon Western Wake Campus to meet Wake Tech's growing student population and evolving workforce-training needs.

Architectural rendering of building on planned Conlon campus

Southern Wake Campus multi-facility renovations ($65 million)

Major formal projects would blend program expansion with upgrades to aging buildings, classrooms, labs and infrastructure on Wake Tech's original campus. The work would strengthen spaces serving key academic and workforce programs:

  • Diesel and heavy equipment
  • Engineering and architecture
  • Classrooms, labs and resource center
  • Construction management
  • Eagle Cast teaching studio
Aerial view of Building L on Southern Wake Campus

Collegewide renewal ($43.1 million)

1. Facilities infrastructure ($20.4 million)

  • HVAC equipment
  • Elevator modernization
  • Electrical upgrades
  • Security and access control
  • Road, parking and wayfinding
  • Building automation and controls
  • Roofing and building envelope
  • Life safety systems
  • Accessibility
Male student in a wheelchair studying at an outdoor table

2. IT, equipment and miscellaneous capital renewal ($22.7 million)

  • Servers, storage, networking and cybersecurity
  • Vehicles, furniture and equipment
  • Targeted renovations responding to enrollment shifts
  • Enterprise software
  • Applied skills and simulation labs
Computer servers