NMTech breaks ground on Career Workforce Training Facility

07/15/2025 - The Northern Marianas Technical Institute broke ground on its $10.1-million Career Workforce Training Facility last July 9 in Koblerville.

NMTech CEO Jodina Attao said the new campus of the CNMI’s trades school didn’t happen overnight, as a lot of sacrifice from NMTech’s board and leadership was required. She admitted that she had gone through a lot before this dream came into fruition. 

“After the pandemic, I was running on fumes, 16-hour days at CHCC, that's a regular work day, and then stepping into the unknown, running a school. How hard could it be, right? Turns out it was hard, but very well worth it.”

Attao added that NMTech’s Career Workforce Training Facility is just a means to an end, as its students are its most valuable resource. 

“The truth is, buildings don't create change, people do. If we want to build a stronger CNMI, it's going to take all of us—educators, businesses, families, policymakers, working together to ensure that this space becomes a launch pad for local talent, trade, and transformation. So let this groundbreaking be more than a ceremonial moment. Let it be a promise that no matter how dire things get for the CNMI, we'll keep building, keep investing, and keep showing up for the future of our islands,” she said.

NMTech program director Benjamin Babauta, who served as emcee, said the groundbreaking isn't just about turning soil, as it's about turning the page to a future that's full of opportunity, growth, skills, and power for the islands. 

“We are not just building buildings, we are building futures in the trades in the Marianas. This campus will be a launch pad for doers, dreamers, and makers, and today we welcome you to be a part of our journey,” he said.

John Bolis Gonzalez, acting special assistant for administration, stood in for Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who had a food allergy, said the multi-million-dollar construction project marks a transformative step forward for the Koblerville community and the entire Northern Marianas community. 

“It will breathe new life into one of the island's most underdeveloped areas, and certainly a key sector in terms of workforce development. By creating local jobs and improving infrastructure, and attracting future investment, the project not only elevates the quality of life for residents but also lays the resounding foundation for long-term economic growth and community pride,” he said.

Gonzalez added that the training facility will prepare CNMI students to become electricians, construction managers, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, automotive technicians, welders, and HVAC specialists for the local economy and infrastructure. 

“How cool is that? And let us be clear, this is not just about jobs. It's about dignity, about ownership, about driving our future, and about giving our people, especially our youth, the tools to lead meaningful, productive lives and contribute directly to the growth of the Commonwealth,” said Gonzales.

NMTEC board of trustees’ chair Roland Johnson said, for one, the new training center will empower students to dive into real careers in automotive technology, where they will learn to diagnose, repair, and innovate in an industry that keeps us all moving forward. 

“These future techs won't just change oil, they'll change lives, starting with their own. In our culinary arts program, students will sharpen their skills and their knives, preparing not just food, but experiences that bring people together. From local cuisine to global flavors, they'll be trained to feed both stomachs and souls, proudly carrying our island’s culture and hospitality into every dish they serve,” he said. 

Johnson said for those drawn to creativity and transformation, NMTech’s cosmetology program offers a canvas where confidence is crafted, one haircut at a time. 

And when the lights go on or off, he said it's because of electrical technicians, and NMTech envisions producing more and more of them in the coming years.

“These future professionals will be trained right here to safely wire, safely wire, install, troubleshoot, and energize the spaces that we live and work in. There's real power in that, literally and figuratively.”

Johnson also mentioned NMTech’s welding program, where students acquire a skill that requires precision, strength, and serious focus. 

“From structural steel to fabrication, our welding students will fuse knowledge and skill to quite literally hold the future together.”

And last but not least, he said, the carpentry program of NMTech will teach future builders to measure twice, cut once, and create the spaces where memories are made from frames to finishes. 

“They'll leave their mark in homes, businesses, and landmarks across the Marianas. So yes, we're building a facility, but more than that, we're building careers, confidence, and a stronger community. We're investing in people who will shape our islands with their hands, hearts, and hustle into the future. The current board, as well as previous boards, have brought this vision to fruition. To our staff, your passion and perseverance lay the groundwork,” he said.

John Saludez, president of contractor HBR International, then shared some of the details of the Career Workforce Training Facility.

He said the project consists of five pre-engineered steel-structured buildings tailored to meet the islands' workforce needs—an administration building, an automotive building, a carpentry building, an electronics/plumbing/electrical building, and an HVAC/welding building. 

“The administration building will span over 6,400 square feet and house a fully outfitted culinary kitchen and dining area. Both the Automotive and EPE buildings will include mezzanine levels to maximize workspace.”

As the lead contractor, Saludez said HBR International is committed to delivering a facility built to the highest quality standards, ensuring reliable, long-lasting construction that will serve our campus for generations.

“Innovations in sustainability and access are woven into every detail. The automotive building will collect rainwater and divert it into a 10,000-gallon underground tank, where it will be treated and filtered for a backup water supply across the entire campus. An asphalt-paved road will bisect the site-linking one side to the other with parking on both sides, while access lanes between the four trade buildings will ensure easy entry through their roll-up doors. We'll also erect a dedicated generator and pump building to safeguard uninterrupted operations.”

Report by Mark Rabago