Kansas City Commits $25M to New Northland Workforce Development Center

Posted April 28, 2025

The City of Kansas City is investing $25 million to fund the Northland Workforce Development Center.

Kansas City committed $25 million toward creating the new NWDC, a state-of-the-art training hub designed to meet regional demand for skilled labor and modernize the existing Northland Career Center. The new facility will be strategically located near 152 Highway and Platte Purchase Road.

“The new center will train and inspire our future first responders, welders, electricians, nurses, and other professionals to meet the workforce needs of the greater Kansas City region,” 1st District Councilman Nathan Willett said in a release.

The $74 million project is being led by Northland Workforce Development Center Corporation. The project currently has $42.8 million already secured, including a $37 million investment from the State of Missouri.

The new facility will replace the existing Platte City campus and expand programming to serve both high school students and adult learners. The upgraded campus will feature modern labs, classrooms, and industry-driven programs in healthcare, construction, logistics, and advanced manufacturing.

The NWDC will encompass 145,000 square feet and will educate approximately 900 students when it opens. The project is expected to be completed by 2027.

“Kansas City’s growth over the next generation will be dictated by the workers we can develop and attract,” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in the release. The City’s investment in the Northland Workforce Development Center represents our commitment to building the region’s economic future while also investing in one of the fastest growing areas in our entire region and state. The partnership between the city, state, and Northland Workforce Development Center Corporation demonstrates what we can accomplish when we work together toward a shared vision of prosperity for all Kansas Citians.”