College of Southern Nevada plans east Las Vegas training facility on former Desert Pines Golf Course parking lot

What happened

The College of Southern Nevada is planning a new training facility on the east side of the Las Vegas valley, KTNV reported. College officials told the station the expansion is meant to bring more educational and workforce opportunities into the surrounding community.

According to KTNV, the facility is expected to be built on the former parking lot of the Desert Pines Golf Course. It is planned to open in late 2027 or early 2028.

Why CSN is focusing on east Las Vegas

Stavan Corbett, executive director of CSN's Division of Workforce, told KTNV the college wants to bring more educational resources into communities where residents may face economic barriers. He said many residents from lower-income communities are underrepresented in fields such as health sciences, advanced manufacturing, construction trades and computer information technology.

Following the West Side model

Corbett said CSN previously gave priority to its West Side Education and Training Center based on economic indicators in that community. Speaking from that site, he told KTNV the area "has the highest unemployment, the lowest median income," which is why the college built it first.

KTNV described the planned east Las Vegas facility as another effort to bring workforce training closer to where residents live. Readers can find more coverage of local campuses and classrooms in our schools section.

Programs still taking shape

The programs to be offered at the new campus are still being determined, according to Corbett. He told KTNV the options could range from construction-focused certifications to English-language courses.

One graduate's experience

KTNV spoke with CSN graduate Kenya Mills, who lives and works on the east side of the valley. Mills, a single parent, told the station that building a career while balancing other responsibilities has been a challenge.

A community health worker course

Mills said a community health worker course through CSN helped her see career paths she had not considered before. She told KTNV that the course "opened up my eyes to what I could actually do."

CSN hopes the east Las Vegas facility will offer similar opportunities to more residents, according to the station. Mills also said there is "so much potential just stepping out of the house on faith."

What the college says about outcomes

Corbett told KTNV that 70% of students are hired after completing a program at CSN. The station did not report further detail on how that figure is measured or which programs it covers.

KTNV directed readers to the college's website, csn.edu, for details on courses now available at CSN campuses and on cost assistance for students. For other projects reshaping parts of the valley, see our development coverage and neighborhood news.

What to watch next

• Which programs CSN selects for the east Las Vegas campus. Corbett said offerings are still being determined and could include construction certifications or English-language courses.
• Progress on the facility planned for the former Desert Pines Golf Course parking lot.
• Whether the facility opens on its planned timeline of late 2027 or early 2028.