Ciscomani Touts $900,000 for Pima Community College STEM Education

TUCSON - Representative Juan Ciscomani returned to his alma mater, Pima Community College, today to spotlight his leadership in preliminarily securing $900,000 in federal funding aimed at expanding workforce training and preparing Pima County students for in-demand STEM careers.

As a first-generation college graduate, Ciscomani understands the transformative power of education. Now serving as Arizona's sole representative on the House Appropriations Committee, he is dedicated to directing critical federal resources to local institutions like Pima Community College, ensuring students today can access the same life-changing opportunities he experienced.

"Pima Community College helped open doors for me, and I want to make sure the next generation has those same opportunities," said Rep. Ciscomani. "As Arizona's sole Appropriator, I'm fighting to deliver $900,000 for Project Catalyst to modernize facilities, expand access to STEM and business programs to better prepare students for the jobs that will drive Arizona's economy forward. Every single investment I fight for in Congress is targeted where it will have the most impact and help Southern Arizona build the workforce it needs for the future."

Leaders at Pima Community College are applauding Congressman Ciscomani's efforts to champion federal investment in workforce initiatives.

"Pima Community College was honored to give Congressman Ciscomani a first-hand view of how the funds he secured will be used to teach our STEM students the skills they need succeed," said Dr. Jeffrey Nasse chancellor of Pima Community College. "Because of the congressman's position on the House Appropriations Committee, the college's Project Catalyst will be able to use these dollars to support our continuing effort to keep our workforce programs in STEM--including pre-engineering--and business fields up to date and relevant to rapidly changing workforce needs in these fields."

The $900,000 in federal funding would support Project Catalyst, an innovative, industry-driven initiative at Pima Community College designed to strengthen workforce development and drive economic opportunity across the region. This investment will modernize engineering instructional facilities and create flexible HyFlex-enabled classrooms, increasing access to high-demand STEM and business programs. By aligning coursework with current industry needs, Project Catalyst will give students the skills they need to excel in competitive careers, while contributing to Arizona's long-term economic growth.

This latest effort builds on his ongoing commitment to expanding workforce training opportunities throughout Southern Arizona. In 2024, he secured $2.7 million in federal funding for Pima JTED's new 50,000-square-foot workforce development center, and he is now advocating for an additional $3 million to support the JTED Workforce Training Center for Technological Innovation. Together, these investments total $5.7 million, expanding hands-on training and preparing local students for high-demand careers.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Representative Ciscomani continues to leverage his leadership to connect students across Arizona's Sixth District with pathways to in-demand careers. These efforts are helping local employers find skilled workers and ensuring Southern Arizona's workforce remains competitive for years to come.