ESCANABA — The Michigan Technical Education Center (MTEC) building at Bay College has officially been in use for 20 years. Though its role has changed over time, Bay representatives said the facility is still an important part of the college’s Escanaba campus.

The MTEC building was established in 2000 as part of a statewide initiative. Bay had already been offering training and development programs, which the initiative focused on, prior to the building’s construction.

“We’ve been doing workforce training at Bay College for a number of years,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Matthew Barron said.

Before the MTEC building opened, Business Development Manager Renee Lundberg said Bay’s training and development was taken care of in the Joseph Heirman University Center. At an even earlier point, the programming was offered in another nearby building.

“It used to be in the Issues and Answers (building),” she said.

Bay’s MTEC building, which was dedicated on March 17, 2000, was one of 26 constructed in Michigan. It was funded through a Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant.

“There were many built across the state — unfortunately, many of those buildings have since been closed,” Barron said.

While Bay’s MTEC building is now considered a multi-use building, it continues to be utilized for training and development. According to Barron, however, the college’s training and development department is not necessarily tied to the MTEC building.

“Some of it happens at the MTEC building, but much of it does not,” he said of the programs handled by the department.

Lundberg pointed to the department’s ability to adapt as one key to its success.

“I think it’s been successful because we’ve been able to be flexible,” she said.

Among the training and development programs that are offered in the MTEC building is Bay’s certified nursing assistant program.

“That’s probably our biggest and most consistent training that we run through our workforce training and development department,” Barron said.

More than 1,000 certified nursing assistants have gone through the program since 2005.

The training and development department also partners with area businesses.

“We work with local employers to assist them in developing their apprenticeship programs,” Lundberg said.

Some of these programs, including a recent training program for Verso Corporation employees, are held at the MTEC building. However, many are held elsewhere on campus or — in some cases — off-campus entirely.

Not all of Bay’s educational offerings at the MTEC building are related to the training and development department. The college’s EMT/paramedic program and machine tool classes for the welding program are currently housed in the building, and batting cages for Bay’s athletics program were recently installed there.

Some space in the MTEC building is being used by other organizations, as well.

“We do have some leases in that particular building,” Barron said.

These include leases with OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group and the Northern Lights YMCA.

Barron said the services provided to the community at the MTEC building will continue to change in the future.

“Right now, one of the things we’re constantly trying to do is find ways to better leverage the space,” he said.

As part of this, Barron said the EMT/paramedic program may move elsewhere on campus at some point.

“We’re investigating that right now,” he said.

More leases may be sought for space at the MTEC building down the line, potentially including a lease with a robotics team in the area. However, Barron said no concrete plans have been made.