CANYONS DISTRICT — District staff gave the board a detailed look at the planned Canyons Innovation Center, a multi‑program campus that district leaders say will centralize career and technical education and expand partnerships with industry and higher education.

The presentation outlined a two‑bid approach: bid package 1 covers a Trades Building (welding, light and heavy diesel, construction trades) and returned a low total bid of about $14.6 million (a base bid of roughly $13.4 million plus designated equipment and contingency). Leon Wilcox, the district business administrator, told the board that package 2 — the renovation of the main building and the top program floors — is still in design and is expected to go out to bid in January or February.

Reed and staff described program spaces planned for the campus: a STEM Action Center makerspace and prototype area; a partner pavilion for university and industry collaborators; medical labs and CNA/medical assisting simulation rooms; computer science, cybersecurity and AI lab space; media/film studios for the district’s CSD TV program; cosmetology and culinary teaching spaces; and a large collaborative commons intended for student interaction and partner events. Presenters named partners and contributors during the discussion, including the STEM Action Center, LaSonde/UVU, Deloitte, and industry partners such as Becton Dickinson (BD), which the presentation said has already committed internships and financial support.

Sam Soter, hired as a business development specialist, was introduced as the staff member who will nurture business‑school partnerships. Staff emphasized the district has applied for a state “catalyst” grant that could fund portions of the center; presenters described a large grant pool with several subcomponents and said the district aimed to compete for the portion that funds the creation of a center.

Board members asked about schedule, enrollment impacts and cost transparency. Wilcox said the Trades Building timeline is tight — about an 18‑month build if the board approves — and that bid package 2 pricing will be returned to the board after design completion; he said the district’s current budget planning anticipates a roughly $40 million program for the campus run, and that the district will balance grant requests, property sales and capital outlay to fund it.

The trades building low bid was placed on the consent agenda for the meeting; staff and multiple board members agreed the project would expand CTE capacity and create career pathways, but several trustees asked for more time and detail on the second package and for broader board involvement in later decisions.

Next steps: staff will finalize bid documents for the second package, continue grant applications and return cost breakdowns to the board for further review and approvals.