FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2026
Barstow Community College Purchases Property to Create New CTE Workforce Training Center
Center Will Offer New and Emerging In-Demand Skills to Meet the Region’s Growing Economic Opportunities
BARSTOW, Calif. — Barstow Community College (BCC) has completed the purchase of the former Rite Aid building at the corner of Barstow Road and Rimrock Road and plans to transform it into a new Career Technical Education (CTE) Workforce Training Center. The facility will serve as a training hub preparing local residents for high-wage careers.
The need to expand the college’s CTE Complex was identified through recent program growth and increased demand. When the Rite Aid property became available, the Board of Trustees recognized it as an extraordinary opportunity – offering significantly more space for future growth and allowing us to make thoughtful, responsible use of funds already set aside in our capital outlay fund, the college’s long-term savings account for buildings and facilities.
“This purchase represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment our community deserves. The Board of Trustees has been deliberate and disciplined in building the financial foundation to make this possible. We are delivering more training capacity, more career pathways, and more economic opportunity for the people of Barstow at a cost that reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship of public funds,” stated Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre, President of the Barstow Community College District Board of Trustees.
The new facility will house five hands-on Career Technical Education labs with capacity for up to 25 learners per lab, enabling hundreds of residents to train each year. Programs will cover new and emerging in-demand skills such as industrial robotics, automation, cybersecurity, unmanned systems, and advanced manufacturing, with many roles requiring training that can be completed in as little as six to twelve months. Wages in these fields range from $23 to over $60 per hour.
The investment comes at a pivotal moment for the High Desert region. The $1.5 billion BNSF Barstow International Gateway project is projected to generate up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs over time. Expanding defense technology operations at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow and Fort Irwin are creating new demand for skilled workers in unmanned systems, cybersecurity, and industrial maintenance. New clean energy investments across the North High Desert are adding further to the region’s workforce needs.
“For years, we have talked about preparing our community for the economic transformation coming to Barstow. That transformation is no longer on the horizon, it is here,” added Dr. Eva Bagg, Superintendent-President, Barstow Community College. “The people of Barstow deserve a facility dedicated to preparing them for the high-wage jobs arriving in our region and this investment delivers exactly that.”
The college is actively pursuing state and federal funding to support facility renovation and program launch. The CTE Workforce Training Center aligns with the City of Barstow’s General Plan 2048, the Thrive Inland SoCal California Jobs First Regional Plan, and the Thrive Inland Future Frontier innovation cluster, reflecting a coordinated regional commitment to expanding economic opportunity across the High Desert.
About Barstow Community College
Barstow Community College (BCC) is a two-year public college in California’s High Desert that serves a wide range of students from Barstow and surrounding communities, including Lenwood, Newberry Springs, Yermo, and Baker. BCC offers programs to help students transfer to four-year universities, train for careers, or improve basic skills. The college also provides workforce training that meets local job needs and supports military personnel and their families through its center at Fort Irwin. Learn more at barstow.edu.
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Media Contact
Amanda Simpson
Barstow Community College
2700 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311
Phone: (760) 252-6727
