The concept for a Center for Technical Education came during development of the City of Minot’s application in the National Disaster Resilience competition following the 2011 flood.

Awarded in 2016, the NDR grant earmarked $3.5 million of the $74.3 million total award for a technical training center. The city added $800,000 from the MAGIC Fund for a building purchase and $1.84 million from its state Hub City funds toward construction. A grant obtained from the North Dakota Department of Commerce through the Minot Area Chamber EDC also helped the CTE project come to fruition under the direction of Dakota College at Bottineau, in partnership with Minot State University in a former Trinity Health building.

The building on Burdick Expressway, is leased to DCB, which also invested in curriculum development. The building has been renovated with classrooms, a simulation laboratory, equipment sterilization space, 12 dental stations,locker rooms, study/meeting room and offices. The dental assisting program is fully accredited.

The facility opened for its first full day of classes in dental assisting on Aug. 27. Eight students who finished prerequisite courses made up the CTE’s first class. It is a 10-month program that finishes with an eight-week experience in dental offices. The CTE center has additional students in prerequisite courses for its dental hygiene program expected to start next year.

Jill Schramm/MDN Minot State University President Steve Shirley prepares to cut the ribbon as Dakota College at Bottineau Campus Dean Carmen Simone watches at right and Dr. Mark Hildahl, dental adviser, observes at left. Gathered are red-coated members of the Minot Area Chamber EDC Ambassadors.

“The vision for this facility has been years in the making and has included so many partners getting us here to this day. It is a great example of collaboration and what is truly possible in the Magic City,” MSU President Steve Shirley said at the ribbon cutting.

“I”m speaking on behalf of dentists, in western North Dakota especially, who have been trying to deliver dental services to our patients for many years while trying to fill our positions in our staffs,” Dr. Mark Hildahl, dental adviser on the project, said at the event. “I can tell you that all of us in western North Dakota – on behalf of all the dentists in the Dental Association – are very excited about this.”

The downtown CTE building also hosts allied health classes and computer information technology classes. Allied health includes pre-nursing, medical coding and medical administration. The classes are taught online through DCB, but students can choose to participate at the CTE building.

Other ideas for classes in the CTE building are being developed, DCB Campus Dean Carmen Simone said this fall. One that DCB wants to bring online quickly is a dental office manager certificate program.

Maggie Backen, DCB-Minot programs director, also said last fall that additional technology programs that build on existing programs are being looked at for the CTE facility, such as artificial intelligence and software development. Bringing community CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) courses to the center also is an option under consideration.

A DCB-Minot advisory board meets twice a year to consider CTE needs in the community.