Capital Budget Request

2027-29 Capital Budget Request

Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges (CTCs) serve students, employers, and communities in every region of the state. CTCs collectively served more than 281,000 students during the 2025–26 academic year. This Capital Budget Request from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) focuses on three core priorities. By preserving state assets, building our state’s workforce, and making improvements that support student success, this request aims to:

• Strengthen communities
• Support employers
• Help Washington's CTCs meet the needs of students and the state's economy

#1: Preserve and Protect State Assets

SBCTC’s highest priority is preserving existing facilities and infrastructure. Currently, the CTC system has more than 21 million square feet of space to operate, maintain, and modernize.

Through critical minor works projects, infrastructure renewal, and deferred maintenance reduction, this request protects state-owned assets that support instruction, workforce training, and student services across Washington.

These investments address building systems, utilities, accessibility improvements, and life-safety needs that allow colleges to continue serving students and communities effectively.

#2: Build Washington's Workforce

CTCs are the state's primary workforce training system, preparing students for high-demand careers and meeting employers' evolving workforce needs.

This request invests in facilities that expand and modernize training for healthcare professionals, skilled trades workers, engineers, manufacturers, apprentices, educators, and other critical workforce
sectors.

Modern instructional spaces ensure students learn using equipment, technology, and environments that reflect current industry standards, helping employers meet growing workforce needs.

These investments strengthen local economies, expand workforce capacity, and create pathways to family-wage careers throughout the state.

#3: Support Student Success and Capacity

This request supports projects that improve student access, enrollment, retention, and completion. Investments in learning commons, welcome centers, instructional modernization, and facility replacement projects create environments that better connect students with the academic resources and support services they need to succeed.

The request also includes electrical grid capacity studies at five colleges that must decarbonize campus heating systems under state law. These studies will determine whether campus infrastructure and local utilities can support future energy needs and will help inform future
investments in energy upgrades.

The results will provide information needed future decarbonization investments and will help position colleges for Commerce funding prioritization related to campus energy upgrades.

Modern student-centered facilities help remove barriers to education, improve access to advising and support services, and create safer, more accessible campuses that serve students and communities for decades to come.