Heights CareerTech Institute Celebrates $50 Million Investment in Southwest Florida’s Workforce
Ribbon cutting marks the opening of new technical education campus serving students throughout Southwest Florida
Heights CareerTech Institute celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art technical education campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in conjunction with the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, marking the culmination of more than four years of vision, planning, fundraising and collaboration.
The 63,500-square-foot facility represents a $50 million investment in career education and Southwest Florida’s future workforce. Heights CareerTech Institute is open to students throughout Lee County and the surrounding region. The school was created to provide individuals across the community with affordable, hands-on pathways to high-demand careers while helping local employers address critical workforce shortages.
The investment includes $42 million for the building and an additional $8 million for specialized laboratory equipment, three years of operational funding, and the purchase of an adjacent 2.5-acre parcel.
For Heights Foundation Founder, President and CEO Kathryn Kelly, the idea for the new institute began with the organization’s work in Harlem Heights and a question about what comes next for young people after high school.
“What an auspicious day this is, and a testament to what can happen when you put vision to a need,” Kelly said during the ceremony. “With a mission to build financially self-sufficient families in Harlem Heights, and Heights kids graduating high school at record numbers, what would be next for them? Four and a half years ago, we decided that vocational and technical training was the answer.”
While that need helped inspire the vision, Heights CareerTech Institute was developed to serve the broader Southwest Florida community. Students of all backgrounds can enroll in programs designed to prepare them for careers in industries where skilled workers are urgently needed.
“But it took more than an idea,” Kelly said. “It took belief, hard work, vision, funding and perseverance.”
The Institute opened its doors to students in August, with its first class of aspiring electricians already beginning their training. Programs include Electrician, HVAC/R, Plumbing, Welding, Marine Service Technologies, Medical Assisting, Medical Coding and Billing, Nursing Assistant, Practical Nursing, Fundamentals of Food Service and Administrative Office Specialist.
The project involved years of research into regional workforce needs, state requirements and industry standards; development of project and operating budgets; property acquisition, rezoning and permitting; construction; creation of the Heights CareerTech Board of Directors and Industry Advisory Committee; and recruitment of administrators, instructors and students.
Kelly recognized the Heights Foundation Board of Directors, Lee County Economic Development Office and the many individuals, businesses, foundations and government partners who supported the project.
She also thanked RG Architects for designing the campus and Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., which constructed the facility and has now completed three buildings for The Heights Foundation.
Funding for the project came from private philanthropy, state legislative appropriations, and New Markets Tax Credits.
Kelly gave special recognition to Dr. Deb Mathinos, The Heights Foundation’s Chief Programs Officer, whose work touched virtually every aspect of developing the school, from research and budgets to operations, industry partnerships and hiring.
“You are the hardest-working person I know,” Kelly told Mathinos. “And you share a vision of not just doing a job, but doing it thoroughly and doing it well.”
Kelly also recognized Jim Pigott, who led the Capital Campaign Steering Committee and championed the project from its earliest stages.
“We would not be here today without him,” Kelly said, citing Pigott’s tireless efforts to build support and raise the funds necessary to turn the vision into reality.
The new campus can serve more than 500 students annually and is designed to prepare graduates for careers in fields where skilled workers are in high demand throughout Southwest Florida.
“Today is a testament to what can happen when a vision to do something good is joined by belief, a strong will, and perseverance,” Kelly said.
For more information or to apply, visit www.heightscareertech.org or call (239) 789-1642. Heights CareerTech is located at 15295 Pine Ridge Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908.
About Heights CareerTech Institute
Heights CareerTech Institute is a post-secondary career and technical training school dedicated to preparing students for high-demand careers through hands-on, industry-focused education. Through accelerated training programs, industry-recognized credentials, and employer partnerships, HCTI creates practical pathways to meaningful employment, economic mobility, and workforce success.
About The Heights Foundation
Harlem Heights is a low-income community in south Fort Myers, Florida. The Heights Foundation’s mission is to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, promotes education and wellness, nurtures family and community development, and provides the benefits of enrichment and the arts.
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 79% Hispanic, 15% African-American, and 6% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 50% below the county average. As a result, families cannot easily access family support services in downtown Fort Myers and benefit greatly from programs within the neighborhood.