$24 Million Expansion Begins At Camden County Technical Schools

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A $24 million expansion of Camden County Technical School campuses in Pennsauken and Gloucester Township began Thursday, officials said.

The expansion will give CCTS more classroom space and advanced tools for the culinary program in Pennsauken and a new program in manufacturing engineering technology in Gloucester Township, officials said, while allowing for increased enrollment several years down the line.

The money comes from a state grant earmarked to expand career and technical education at the 15 vocational-technical school districts in New Jersey, Camden County said in a news release. The Camden County Board of Commissioners will match 25 percent of the cost, as the grant funding requires.

Tony DePrince, manager of district operations for CCTS, said the new facilities are on track to open for students by the 2024-25 school year.

Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell said technical schools are vital to workforce development in the county.

“With this funding, CCTS will be able to continue its outstanding curriculum, from robotics to culinary education, while also expanding its technical education programming and career opportunities," McDonnell said in a news release. "This grant money will greatly benefit the students and employers across the county, and we’re excited for the future at CCTS.”

The Pennsauken campus will see a $14 million expansion of its culinary program and an addition of 20,000 square feet. The renovation will add culinary career labs on two floors, two theory and instructional classrooms, and an instructional support/service simulation kitchen for front-of-house instructional practices.

The expansion will eventually allow for 100 more students in the Culinary Arts and other career and technical programs, the county said in a news release.

The Gloucester Township campus was awarded $5.25 million for a new program based around a career in manufacturing engineering technology (MET). This renovation will add 19,206 square feet to Building 6 for the new career program, laboratories, classrooms, and other spaces.

The Gloucester Township project will increase capacity for MET students by 80 over the next four years, the county said.

“These expansions are going play a huge role in helping our students and prospective students, be as prepared for the work force as they can be, come graduation,” said Commissioner Jon Young. “These projects will enhance the learning environment for CCTS students, giving them top-quality, hands-on experience, they can take them in their future careers. Whether its culinary arts, manufacturing, engineering and beyond, the students that come through CCTS will receive the best possible education and that’s thanks in large part, to our leaders at the state and county level seeing the value in these programs and investing in them.”

CCTS will continue to give updates on the projects completed with bond act funding on its website and on social media, the county said.