Photo provided by ACIT
The Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) celebrated the opening of its 130,000-square-foot Career & Technical Education (CTE) Building, a $53.5 million investment that expands opportunity for 450 more students each year and strengthens Atlantic County’s workforce pipeline. The facility increases capacity to serve more than 2,000 students and expands hands-on training in high-demand career fields that connect directly to regional employers.
“This building reflects our mission to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue education with purpose and step into meaningful careers,” said Dr. Philip Guenther, superintendent of the Atlantic County Vocational and Special Services School Districts. “Students train in immersive environments that mirror the industries they plan to enter, using cutting-edge equipment, meeting real-world expectations, and developing the technical and leadership skills needed for long-term success.”
The building also carries a powerful story of community pride. Many of the professionals who helped design and construct the facility are ACIT graduates who once trained in the school’s classrooms and have since built successful careers in the trades and technical industries. Their work now stands as a daily example for current students, showing how career and technical education can fuel both personal success and community growth.
Leaders began planning the expansion in 2018 through years of collaboration and public investment. Supported by the State of New Jersey’s Securing Our Children’s Future Grant, the project strengthens the connection between education and employment while meeting growing demand for skilled workers across South Jersey. The expanded facility prepares students for apprenticeships, college, military service, and direct entry into the workforce.
“This building represents opportunity,” said Mark W. Ludwick, president of the Atlantic County Vocational and Special Services School Districts Board of Education. “It strengthens the tie between education and workforce development, supports local employers who depend on skilled talent, and prepares students for meaningful careers that drive the long-term success of Atlantic County.”
ACIT’s National Blue-Ribbon School designation underscores its commitment to excellence and career readiness. With this expansion, ACIT deepens its role as a community asset, building local talent, supporting industry needs, and strengthening Atlantic County’s economic future.
About Atlantic County Institute of Technology
For over 50 years, the Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) has prepared students with the academic and technical skills needed for careers or college. As the county’s most comprehensive technical education school, ACIT offers 19 career and technical programs to a diverse student body. Guided by its motto, “Pursue What You Love,” students engage in both academics and extracurricular activities, while hundreds of adult learners also participate in full- and part-time evening programs.
Local officials and school board members join to cut the ribbon at the May 15 ceremony. Photo provided by ACIT
Dr. Philip Guenther, superintendent of the Atlantic County Vocational and Special Services School Districts, gives a speech during the ceremony. Photo provided by ACIT
Members of the ACIT Air Force JROTC attend the ribbon cutting ceremony, guiding event attendees on a tour through the new CTE Building. Photo provided by ACIT
The new 130,000-square-foot CTE Building will increase school capacity by 450 students each year. Photo provided by ACIT
Inside the new CTE building at ACIT. Photo provided by ACIT
ACIT and Atlantic County provided the information above in a news release distributed May 21, 2026.
