Clark College Celebrates Opening Of Boschma Farms Location (Photo) - 01/09/26

New Advanced Manufacturing Center addresses growing workforce demand

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — Clark College officially marked the opening of its newest location, Boschma Farms, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 8. College leaders, community partners, and elected officials gathered in front of the building for opening remarks from Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards, Board of Trustees Chair Marilee Scarbrough, and Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole. Tanisha Harris, representing Senator Maria Cantwell’s office, was also in attendance and read a statement from the senator.

Located on a 10-acre property in Ridgefield, Boschma Farms houses the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC), a 49,000-square-foot facility designed to support hands-on learning and workforce development. Following the ribbon-cutting, partners and guests toured the AMC, including the Learning Lab, where attendees viewed demonstrations of the state-of-the-art equipment used in Clark’s advanced manufacturing program.

Advanced manufacturing is one of the fastest-growing industries in the Pacific Northwest, shaping the regional economy and driving demand for highly skilled workers. According to JobsEQ, more than 230,000 people are employed in advanced manufacturing in Washington state, including nearly 13,000 in Clark County. The Portland-Vancouver metro area currently offers nearly 3,800 job openings in the field.

“Today's official ribbon-cutting signifies a new beginning for the college and the community,” Dr. Edwards said. “As the need for an advanced manufacturing workforce in our region continues to grow, we recognized the opportunity—and the responsibility—to meet it head-on. The Advanced Manufacturing Center is a direct response to those regional and national needs.”

With more than $3 million in federal support, the AMC expands Clark College’s ability to train advanced manufacturing technicians, modernize labs with clean energy technology, and increase STEM degree completion for low-income students. “The Center will provide more opportunities for Southwest Washington residents to gain the skills they need to land good-paying jobs and will help attract more high-tech businesses in the region,” U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said in her statement.

Advanced Manufacturing at Clark College offers pathways through stackable degrees and certificates with multiple entry and exit points, including certificates of achievement, certificates of proficiency, and an Associate of Applied Technology degree. Graduates can pursue careers across a variety of fields, including mechatronics, programming, welding, and renewable energy.

“We talk a lot about affordability and cost of living, and a major solution is to create opportunities for better wages and improved livelihood through a quality education,” said Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole. “If we want people to live, work, and thrive here, we have to make sure workforce training is accessible, modern, and aligned with the realities of our region. That’s why this campus matters—serving northern Clark County, and strengthening the regional workforce while keeping opportunities close to home.”

Construction for the facility began in June 2023. The first cohort of advanced manufacturing students started classes at Boschma Farms during the fall 2025 term. In addition to the advanced manufacturing program, the campus also hosts general education classes and Community and Continuing Education courses, as well as meeting spaces for community groups. 

“Moments like this remind me why community colleges matter,” Chair Scarbrough said. “This facility is not just a building—it is a promise to students that we are investing in their futures here in Southwest Washington. What happens here will ripple outward, strengthening families, businesses, and the regional economy for years to come.”

At the heart of the AMC is the Learning Lab, a highly visible, hands-on instructional space featuring mills and lathes, water jet cutters, robotic welders, press brakes, and 3D printers.

Led by construction partners, Mortenson Construction and Henneberry-Eddy Architects, the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms has earned a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Design features include high-speed fans for air circulation, natural light supported by skylights and daylight-harvesting sensors, and bird-safe frit patterns on the windows to reduce bird run-ins with the glass. Additionally, portions of the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are exposed, offering future learning opportunities for students.

During her speech, Dr. Edwards referenced one of her favorite aspects of the building’s design—a flowing basket-weave pattern incorporated into the walls, symbolizing the interconnectivity of threads, histories, and perspectives, and how diverse backgrounds and stories shape the Clark community and the region. “I am eager to see how this building will create new opportunities, transform lives, and impact our region in the coming years—by teaching the skills needed for a growing industry and helping students build a future right here in Southwest Washington.”

Learn more:

• Clark College’s AMC at Boschma Farms location

• Clark College’s Advanced Manufacturing Program

• Video preview available here

About Clark College 

Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. This public community college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves almost 10,000 students, including high school students, veterans, displaced workers, multilingual and mature learners. About three-quarters of its students are the first in their families to attend college.   

Clark College’s main campus is located in Vancouver’s Central Park, with classes also held at Washington State University Vancouver, Columbia Tech Center, and the new Advanced Manufacturing Center in Ridgefield, Wash.

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