Aims Community College to Build Workforce Innovation Center

Aims Community College in Greeley, Colo., recently announced that it has broken ground on its new Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC), according to a news release. The facility for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and education has a scheduled opening date of fall 2026.

The AWIC measures in at 45,000 square feet and will cost an estimated $25.5 million. It will serve as the first innovation incubator in the county, as well as a gathering space for Colorado entrepreneurs to foster collaboration among students, business leaders, and local startups.

“AWIC is a launchpad for opportunity,” Marilyn Schock, chair of the college’s 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.”

The new facility will include spaces outfitted with virtual and augmented reality tools. It will also feature business incubator space, manufacturing labs, and outdoor testing areas.

“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 Aims Community College CEO and President Dr. Leah L. Bornstein.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Designing for Every Mind

    Learning environments have the power to shape not just what students know, but who they become. When a school is designed with genuine empathy—for the full range of ways students think, sense, and engage with the world—it becomes more than a building. It becomes a catalyst for growth, confidence, and belonging. That is the animating idea behind neurodiverse design, and it is one that is transforming how more architects and designers are thinking about school design.

  • Compton High School

    Compton High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Compton High School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.