LTCC Secures $8.6M for Tahoe’s First Public Safety Training Complex

January 16, 2025

Lake Tahoe Community College Fire Academy training burning car

LTCC Awarded $8.6M Grant to Build Tahoe Basin’s First Public Safety Training Complex

A decade-long vision to build a regional training complex becomes a reality through Measure F bond, state and federal funding.

Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) has officially secured the final funding to build the Tahoe Basin’s first Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC). An $8.6 million grant from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, approved on January 14, 2025, paves the way for this transformative project. This project marks a significant step forward in enhancing the region’s emergency response capabilities and workforce training in fire, forestry, and emergency medical services (EMS).

“The Public Safety Training Complex has been a vision for our community for more than a decade. By building this critical infrastructure, we can ensure future generations of safety personnel are well-trained. Providing a pipeline of qualified professionals to local and state agencies is critical in this era of living with wildfire. I’m excited that our promise to the community is about to become a reality. I’m also honored that LTCC has been selected to lead the California community college system in enhancing fire and forestry programs as part of this Project,” said Jeff DeFranco, Superintendent/President of LTCC.

A Milestone Decade in the Making

The PSTC is the culmination of over a decade of collaboration and planning, rooted in LTCC’s 2014 Measure F general obligation bond. Designed to improve campus infrastructure, Measure F has funded numerous initiatives, including modernizing and upgrading campus classrooms and labs, implementing several important ADA enhancements throughout the campus, establishing an on-site Early Learning Center, and constructing the Tahoe Mobility Hub.

With the PSTC as its final major project, the $55 million bond has leveraged an impressive $70 million in additional funding from state and federal grants, philanthropic partnerships, and private donors, bringing the total investment in LTCC’s facilities to nearly $125 million.

Rendering of the new Public Safety Training Complex at LTCC

First-of-its-Kind Facility in Tahoe Basin

The PSTC will be a state-of-the-art facility and first of its kind in the region, featuring training resources such as:

  • A 100,000-square-foot outdoor training tarmac for simulating fire and rescue scenarios.
  • An advanced training tower for vertical rescue and fire suppression exercises. 
  • A robust water delivery system designed for fire safety exercises.
  • 7,000 square feet of secure storage for engines, equipment, and gear that supports forestry, firefighting, and other career technical education programs.
  • A multi-disciplinary facility serving Fire Science, Wildland Fire, Forestry, Emergency Medical Services, and Wilderness Medicine and Search and Rescue programs. 

The complex will serve multiple LTCC programs, including the Fire Academy, Fire Science, Wildland Fire, Forestry, EMS, Wilderness and Search and Rescue. This modern facility will allow local first responders and students to receive hands-on, high-level training right in the Tahoe Basin, eliminating the need for costly travel to other locations.

“This facility will not only serve as a training ground for public safety professionals across the state but as a catalyst for economic growth and resilience in our region. It brings an essential resource to the Tahoe Basin, where we previously had to travel off-campus and outside the area for hands-on training," said Brad Deeds, Dean of Workforce Development and Instruction.

Arial rendering of the new safety complex at LTCC

Building for a Stronger, Safer Future

LTCC extends its deepest gratitude to CCC Chancellor Sonya Christian and the Board of Governors for Tuesday’s action, along with the South Lake Tahoe community, local and state partners, and all stakeholders who made this important milestone possible.

Generous support for two Congressionally directed spending requests from the late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and current U.S. Senator Alex Padilla funded the training tower and other specialized fire and forestry equipment. Key advocacy for LTCC’s forestry and fire programs was provided by Congressman Kevin Kiley and the City of South Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Fund, CAL FIRE, the California Tahoe Conservancy, the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, the El Dorado Community Foundation, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ California Resilient Careers in Forestry program also played a crucial role in funding these LTCC programs.

What’s Next?

The next steps for the Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training Complex involve finalizing the contract with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, completing plans with stakeholders and project architect JKAE, and working closely with agencies like the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Division of the State Architect, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board to secure permits and approvals. Site preparations are set to begin in fall 2025, with construction expected to start in May 2026. The facility is projected to be fully operational by early 2027.

For more information on our programs, visit our Career & Technical Education page.