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Aims Community College Breaks Ground on Workforce Innovation Center

Aims Community College is shaping the next era of workforce development, entrepreneurship and education with the launch of the Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC), a cutting-edge facility set to open in Fall 2026. 

People with shovels at groundbreaking ceremony
Pictured left to right Aims Community College CEO and President Dr. Leah L. Bornstein and Aims Board of Trustee members Marilyn Schock, Heidi Windell, John W. Haefeli and Gene O'Hara.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 13 at the Aims Greeley Campus, marking the beginning of the facility’s construction and an exciting new chapter for the region’s economic growth and technological advancement.

This $25.5 million, 45,000-square-foot center will be the first innovation incubator in Weld County. It will serve as a convening space in Northern Colorado’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing a hub for innovation, business development, and job training by fostering collaboration between students, startups, and industry leaders.

“AWIC is a launchpad for opportunity,” Marilyn Schock, Chair of the Aims Board of Trustees. “By bringing together education, entrepreneurship, and industry, we are not only strengthening our regional workforce but also positioning Weld County as a leader in innovation and economic growth.”

Proposed architectural rendering of the AWIC.

A Unique Approach to Education and Business Development

The overarching goal of the AWIC is to ensure all who use the facility can become future-ready through access to emerging technologies and spaces to innovate. 

“The AWIC represents a bold investment in the future of the Northern Colorado region, providing students, entrepreneurs, and industry partners with cutting-edge technology needed to drive innovation,” said Dr. Leah L. Bornstein, Aims Community College CEO and President. 

Designed to evolve with next-generation tech, the AWIC will feature spaces for students and community members to use emerging technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality tools. The center will also offer business incubator space, with manufacturing labs and outdoor testing areas able to accommodate power, data and space needs for high-tech equipment.

Stay tuned for updates on this transformative project at aims.edu/news.