Construction under way on Roanoke County Career and Technical Center to train students for trades

Construction is underway on the Roanoke County Career and Technical Center, county presenters and the project’s lead builder said during a project briefing. The presenters described the center as a hands-on career and technical education facility that will connect high school students to construction and advanced manufacturing careers.

"This new career and technology center will give high school students hands on experience with the skills that power our regional economy," a presenter said, describing the center’s classroom-to-career approach. The presenter also stated that "Roanoke County is investing in for the future," though no funding amounts or timelines were provided in the remarks.

Branch, a Roanoke-based construction company, was identified as the lead builder. A Branch representative said the company has built the space to accommodate current technology and future expansion, and noted the project relies on a network of local contractors and suppliers. "Our branch with Roanoke County has been very adaptable," the Branch representative said, adding that local trade partners and recent Roanoke graduates are working on the site.

An agency official framed the center as a workforce response: "We’re creating a direct path from classroom to construction industry," the official said, pointing to awareness and retirement gaps in the construction trades the center aims to narrow. The official added, "We’re not just building a building. We’re building an economic engine."

Industry representatives at the briefing said companies have volunteered to advise on facility layout, equipment and instructor recruitment to ensure curricula align with employer needs. Presenters said students will receive immersive instruction in trades including construction, advanced manufacturing and mechatronics so they can "see how the work actually happens and how everything comes together in the real world."

The remarks did not specify an opening date, project budget, or formal county resolution authorizing the work. No individual speaker names or job titles were provided in the briefing transcript; all attributions above use role labels that appeared in the remarks. The project was repeatedly referred to by the acronym RCCTC and as the Roanoke County Career And Technical Center.

Construction and industry engagement are ongoing; presenters portrayed the center as intended to strengthen the region’s workforce over the coming decades.