Clay County commissioners ask staff to craft options to sponsor Northland Workforce Development Center classroom

Bridget Mendoza, speaking for the Northland Workforce Development Center, asked the Clay County Commission to consider sponsoring a $50,000 “founding classroom” at the center and to explore payment options and pledge schedules. The request drew broad verbal support from commissioners, who asked county staff to prepare a framework for how the county could invest and present funding options during the budget process. Mendoza said the center will provide vocational and technical training for high-school students and adults, include a daycare to allow parents to attend evening classes and is scheduled to break ground in late August, with an opening targeted for 2027. She said the project has large state and local partners and remains short of its fundraising target. "I am asking you to invest in our future of our county," Mendoza said. "This contribution is not only an investment in workforce development. It's a visible, lasting legacy that uplifts individuals, families, and our entire community." Commissioners described workforce development, and the proposed county sponsorship, as an economic development priority. Commissioner Wagner and others noted the project leveraged a major state contribution; Mendoza said the state of Missouri had provided $37,000,000 toward the initiative. Several commissioners said the county could consider the $50,000 sponsorship in the next budget cycle or sign a multi-year pledge. Commissioner Whittington asked whether the county could pay the amount at once or spread it out; Mendoza said donors use a mix of up-front gifts and multi-year pledges. Commissioner Carpenter and Commissioner Lawson expressed support for funding the initiative during budget planning; Commissioner Wagner said matching local contributions help ensure full use of state dollars. Several commissioners cited the center’s adult-training offerings and on-site childcare as especially important. The commission did not take a formal appropriation. Instead, commissioners reached consensus to instruct the county administrator to work with staff and return with a framework and options for a county investment, including timing and pledge structure, for the commission to consider in the budget process. The county administrator said staff had enough information to proceed. Next steps: county staff will draft an investment/pledge framework and present options to the commission; project partners plan a late-August groundbreaking and an opening in 2027.