PRESS RELEASE FROM GATEWAY COLLEGE:
By GateWay Community College
Jan 17, 2024
In a transformative moment for Phoenix, GateWay Community College (GWCC) is poised to lead the charge into the future with its revolutionary Electric Vehicle (EV) program. In collaboration with Legacy EV, a market leader in aftermarket EV applications, the program positions GateWay as a leader in EV education. Legacy EV’s expertise in electric vehicle technology and commitment to fostering innovation makes them an ideal collaborator for this groundbreaking venture.
“I am proud of GateWay and Legacy EV’s commitment to innovation through the Electric Vehicle program. Together, we are educating students and developing the talent that will drive the electric automobile revolution,” said Amy Diaz, Ed.D., president, GateWay Community College.
Arizona’s EV dominance
According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center of the U.S. Department of Energy, Arizona has emerged as a dominant force in EV and battery manufacturing, ranking seventh in the U.S. for number of registered electric vehicles. Significant players like Tesla, Lucid Motors, Nikola, Li-Cycle and ElectraMeccanica have invested over $58 billion in private funds since 2021, solidifying the state’s status as a top player in the EV and battery industries for years to come.
Economic impact and employment opportunities
GateWay’s EV program is a forward-thinking effort crucial to meeting the rising demand for skilled EV technicians. As part of Arizona’s dynamic EV manufacturing ecosystem, the program aligns seamlessly with Phoenix’s commitment to transportation electrification and a sustainable future. Karen Apple, electric vehicles program manager with the city of Phoenix, emphasizes the significance of qualified EV technicians in achieving Phoenix’s EV goals.
“The city of Phoenix is excited about GateWay’s program and partnership with Legacy EV. Qualified EV technicians are needed to support the city’s goal of having 280,000 EVs on the roads of Phoenix by 2030,” said Apple.
Nurturing skilled professionals
GWCC and Legacy EV are at the forefront of cultivating a new generation of skilled professionals prepared for the challenges and opportunities in the EV industry. The transformative EV program empowers individuals to navigate EV systems intricately, from diagnostics to repairs, ensuring preparedness for the evolving automotive landscape.
Catalyst for change and economic growth
The economic impact of GateWay’s Electric Vehicle program aligns with the surging growth in the EV market. The program catalyzes change, symbolizing GWCC’s dedication to sustainability and offering opportunities for those aspiring to be at the forefront of the EV revolution.
“Over three years ago, we saw the growing demand for properly trained EV technicians was not being met,” said Mavrick Knoles, president and co-founder of Legacy EV. “The realization that the automotive repair market was not preparing for the EV transition led us to pioneer one of the nation’s first education programs for the next generation of auto technicians. We assembled a team of some of Arizona’s top educators who understand the importance of quality content that gives students the skills necessary to succeed in the changing auto industry. Within just a few short years, our training program has been implemented across the country, as well as Canada. Based in Tempe, Arizona, it was clear that leveraging our education program with GateWay Community College was a perfect partnership to make the Phoenix area a national hub for EV workforce development.”
Anticipated program launch: Late 2024/early 2025
As Phoenix advances its plans for transportation electrification, GateWay’s Electric Vehicle program stands as an exemplar, illustrating how education can shape a sustainable and prosperous future. The collaboration with Legacy EV underscores a commitment to excellence, ensuring that GateWay’s graduates become pioneers in the swiftly evolving landscape of EV technology. Eager anticipation surrounds the unfolding program for its positive impact on the community and the broader EV industry within the economic region.
For further information on GateWay Community College’s Electric Vehicle program launch, expected between late 2024 and early 2025, please visit gatewaycc.edu.
The Maricopa County Community College District includes 10 individually-accredited colleges – Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale and South Mountain – and the Maricopa Corporate College, serving approximately 140,000 students with bachelor’s degrees, two-year degrees, certificates, and university transfer programs.
During the May 2023 Yavapai Community College District Governing Board meeting, where the budget for the upcoming 2023-24 year was approved, one of the most unexpected developments was the decision to allocate $10 million over the next three years for the expansion of the existing 108,000 square foot, eight-acre Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC). The expansion was intended to increase CTEC’s size by an additional 20,000 square feet. According to the College budget catalog furnished to residents at the meeting, “within the expanded space, the college will construct new programs and move a few existing programs to meet Freeport’s current and future workforce needs. Specifically, this space will be used to train technicians with the newest automation and AI technologies.”
The suddenness of this decision caught many attendees by surprise, leaving them with limited information about the specific details and rationale behind the expansion. There were no clarifications given at the meeting regarding why the specific amount of $10 million was chosen, nor was there any disclosure regarding what portion of funding that might come from state grants, federal grants, or private industry.
Requests for additional information made to the Community College’s Public Relations Department about the proposed project and where the money was coming from were ignored.
However, as suddenly as the project appeared in the 2023-24 budget, it is now disappearing. At the February 20 Board meeting, Vice President Clint Ewell announced that the project was cancelled. In a slide explaining the proposed 2024-25 budget, the line item identifying the project is now blank (covered over with yellow).
The explanation given at the Board meeting by the College was that anticipated grant funding was not forthcoming.
Please see the proposed capital budget in draft form below as shown by Vice President Ewell to the Board on February 20, 2024.
Recall that back on January 27, 2020, the District Governing Board showed no opposition to a proposal made by the College executives to spend almost a half million dollars to purchase two 3D concrete printers. The information given to the Board at the time suggested that the printers could complete the foundation, interior, and exterior walls for a medium-sized home in 3-5 days.
After roofing, electrical, plumbing, and other services were installed, it was thought that these 3D printed homes could help alleviate Yavapai College’s attainable housing shortage by providing temporary housing for staff, faculty, or students. This innovative approach seemed like a promising solution to a pressing problem.
However, after Governing Board approval and the investment of the half million dollars, the College eventually had to scrap the purchased 3D printers and construct their own, using its own staff and materials. The purchased printers were not fit for the purpose intended by the College.
The next bit of information surfaced in December 2020, when a brief announcement in the College’s Facilities Management Newsletter revealed ongoing work to equip the 3D housing sites (possibly three of them) at the Chino Valley Center with essential utilities. The announcement stated, “Facilities Management is aiding the 3D house printing project by installing electrical, data, and water services for up to three houses at the construction site. Moreover, the Chino Ag Center will serve as a platform to display the program’s capabilities.”
However, since December 2020, Yavapai Community College’s disclosure about the status of the 3D homes has been at best sparse. That changed slightly when, during a brief moment at the November 26, 2023, Governing Board meeting, some light was shed on this project.
The scrap of information came in response to a succinct question from Chair Deb McCasland about the status of those homes. “What is the plan for the houses built on the Chino Valley Campus?” she asked. In response, Community College Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Clint Ewell, surprised some listeners by stating: “Those are actually not certified for occupancy. So those will just be basically demonstration homes.”
Recall, as noted earlier, that since 2020 many, if not most, had assumed that the 3D cement homes being constructed would, when completed, provide temporary housing for College faculty, staff, or students. But as clarified in Ms. McCasland’s query, this will not be the case. They cannot be occupied!
It is worth noting that the total amount, running into hundreds of thousands of dollars, invested by the College in this endeavor remains hidden from the public. The District Governing Board, charged with the dual responsibility of judiciously using taxpayer funds and keeping the community informed about spending, seems to have missed the mark over the past three years in ensuring transparency and accountability for this project.
*Note: Since 2017 the Community College has been spending millions to upgrade the existing Prescott Valley Center. It completed a $5.8 million dollar phase one construction project at the Center in 2017. Between then and 2023, additional hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on phase two of renovation and improvements along with land acquisition.