This new facility, funded by the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, will be utilized for classes teaching students job-ready skills in advanced manufacturing and welding

VANCOUVER — On Wednesday (May 14), the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools, VPS staff and students, and community partners gathered at Fort Vancouver High School for the groundbreaking of a new technical trades building. 

This new facility, funded by the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, will be utilized for classes teaching students job-ready skills in advanced manufacturing and welding. It greatly expands the capacity of Fort’s existing programs and will provide students with hands-on, experiential training. The center aims to create a pipeline of skilled workers ready to contribute to the region’s ongoing economic growth.

The Ed Lynch Technical Trades Center is projected to open to students by January 2026.

“We’re so happy to be able to bridge the gap between our donors’ visions, community needs, and the needs of our VPS students. This pathway for collaboration makes buildings like the Ed Lynch Technical Trades Center possible,” said Timothea Sutton, Interim Executive Director of the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools. “We can’t wait to see the positive impact these highly-trained students will bring to our community.”

Attendees included VPS Superintendent Dr. Jeff Snell and City Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle.

This project is 100% donor-funded, with no bond or taxpayer money used, thanks to the support of the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, a charitable fund of the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington, as well as the district’s generous community and business partners.

Information provided by the Vancouver School District.