By Nikola Tzenov
WESTMINSTER, Md. — Carroll Community College has received $850,000 in fiscal 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending to support its Ratcliffe Applied Technology and Trades Center, a federal investment college officials say will expand high-demand workforce training programs in the region.
The funding, included in a fiscal 2026 spending package recently approved by Congress and signed by the president, will allow the college to purchase equipment for programs such as welding, automotive technology, plumbing and advanced manufacturing. College leaders say the center will help address local workforce needs and ease waitlists in programs that currently lack sufficient space.
“This award is a powerful endorsement of our mission to prepare students for meaningful careers and to meet the workforce needs of our region,” said college President Rosalie Mince. She credited U.S. Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Johnny Olszewski for supporting the funding.
Alsobrooks said the investment will help ensure students have access to training for in-demand careers while strengthening Maryland’s economy. Olszewski said the center represents “a vital investment in Maryland’s future” and will expand access to workforce training in Carroll County.
Olszewski’s office secured funding for 14 community projects through Community Project Funding, which provides federal support to state and local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations across Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Carroll County.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is expected to contact the college in the coming weeks with details on how to access the funds. College officials said they are preparing for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ratcliffe Applied Technology and Trades Center later this year. The facility will be located on Airport Drive in Westminster.
More information about the center and the college’s workforce programs is available at the college’s website.
