Clark Celebrates Opening of Boschma Farms Location

New Advanced Manufacturing Center in Ridgefield addresses growing workforce demand

Pictured: Dr. Edwards cuts a ribbon to mark the official opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms. From L to R: Sabra Sands, Tanisha Harris, Alijah Machida, Chair Marilee Scarbrough, John Anderson, Chair Deborah Blom, Oswald, Dr. Karin Edwards, Mayor Matt Cole, Dr. Terry Brown 

Clark College officially marked the opening of its newest location, Boschma Farms, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 8. College leaders, community partners, and elected officials gathered in front of the building for opening remarks from Clark College President Dr. Karin Edwards, Board of Trustees Chair Marilee Scarbrough, and Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole. Tanisha Harris, representing Senator Maria Cantwell’s office, was also in attendance and read a statement from the senator. 

Located on a 10-acre property in Ridgefield, Boschma Farms houses the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC), a 49,000-square-foot facility designed to support hands-on learning and workforce development. Following the ribbon-cutting, partners and guests toured the AMC, including the Learning Lab, where attendees viewed demonstrations of the state-of-the-art equipment used in Clark’s advanced manufacturing program. Clark’s culinary team provided special AMC-themed cookies, and manufacturing students created souvenir wrenches using the program’s 3D printer. 

Pictured: a group of event attendees tours the Learning Lab at Clark's Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Advanced manufacturing is one of the fastest-growing industries in the Pacific Northwest, shaping the regional economy and driving demand for highly skilled workers. According to JobsEQ, more than 230,000 people are employed in advanced manufacturing in Washington state, including nearly 13,000 in Clark County. The Portland-Vancouver metro area currently offers nearly 3,800 job openings in the field. 

“Today's official ribbon-cutting signifies a new beginning for the college and the community,” Dr. Edwards said. “As the need for an advanced manufacturing workforce in our region continues to grow, we recognized the opportunity—and the responsibility—to meet it head-on. The Advanced Manufacturing Center is a direct response to those regional and national needs.” 

Pictured (L to R): Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole, Dr. Edwards, Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle

 

Pictured: event attendees walk through the Learning Lab

With more than $3 million in federal support, the AMC expands Clark College’s ability to train advanced manufacturing technicians, modernize labs with clean energy technology, and increase STEM degree completion for low-income students. “The Center will provide more opportunities for Southwest Washington residents to gain the skills they need to land good-paying jobs and will help attract more high-tech businesses in the region,” U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said in her statement. 

Advanced Manufacturing at Clark College offers pathways through stackable degrees and certificates with multiple entry and exit points, including certificates of achievement, certificates of proficiency, and an Associate of Applied Technology degree. Graduates can pursue careers across a variety of fields, including mechatronics, programming, welding, and renewable energy. 

Pictured left: Board of Trustees Chair Marilee Scarbrough speaks at the event.

 “We talk a lot about affordability and cost of living, and it cannot be overlooked that a major solution to removing those barriers is in creating opportunities for better wages and improved livelihood through a quality education,” said Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole. “If we want people to live, work, and thrive here, we have to make sure workforce training is accessible, modern, and aligned with the realities of our region. That’s what makes this campus so important. It serves northern Clark County, but its impact reaches far beyond city limits—strengthening the regional workforce while keeping opportunities close to home.” 

To mark the occasion, Mayor Cole also presented Dr. Edwards with a bottle of “Ridgefield Roundabout Rosé,” a wine made by grapes grown in Ridgefield’s roundabouts—including the one next to Boschma Farms—through partnerships with local vineyards. 

Construction for the facility began in June 2023. The first cohort of advanced manufacturing students started classes at Boschma Farms during the fall 2025 term. In addition to the advanced manufacturing program, the campus also hosts general education classes and Community and Continuing Education courses, as well as meeting spaces for community groups.  

“Moments like this remind me why community colleges matter,” Chair Scarbrough said. “This facility is not just a building—it is a promise to students that we are investing in their futures. What happens here will ripple outward, strengthening families, businesses, and the regional economy for years to come.” 

At the heart of the AMC is the Learning Lab, a highly visible, hands-on instructional space featuring mills and lathes, water jet cutters, robotic welders, press brakes, and 3D printers. During the event, students demonstrated the water jet cutter by creating metal penguins (pictured right).

Led by construction partners, Mortenson Construction and Henneberry-Eddy Architects, Boschma Farms has earned a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Design features include high-speed fans for air circulation, natural light supported by skylights and daylight-harvesting sensors, and bird-safe frit patterns on the windows to reduce bird run-ins with the glass. Additionally, portions of the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are exposed, offering future learning opportunities for students. 

During her speech, Dr. Edwards referenced one of her favorite aspects of the building’s design—a flowing basket-weave pattern incorporated into the walls, symbolizing the interconnectivity of threads, histories, and perspectives, and how diverse backgrounds and stories shape the Clark community and the region. “I am eager to see how this building will create new opportunities, transform lives, and impact our region in the coming years—by teaching the skills needed for a growing industry and helping students build a future right here in Southwest Washington.” 

View the event program here.

Photos: Clark College/Wei Zhuang and Malena Goerl

Story by Malena Goerl, Staff Writer, Communications and Marketing