Cache CAPS Awarded Catalyst Grant to Establish Regional Innovation Campus

Cache County School District (CCSD), acting on behalf of a multi-district effort, has been awarded a $15.2 million Catalyst Center Implementation Grant. This landmark investment will fund the construction of a dedicated Northern Utah Cache CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) campus and an expansion of profession-based learning for students across Northern Utah.

CCSD has extended an invitation to work collaboratively with Box Elder, Logan, and Rich County school districts and InTech Collegiate Academy. By partnering with Utah State University and Bridgerland Technical College, the program allows students to “stack” credentials toward both technical certifications and four-year degrees.

The Cache CAPS program allows high school juniors and seniors to move beyond traditional job shadowing to hands-on industry-provided project management opportunities while using the same tools and technology found in today’s workplaces. This immersive experience helps students build valuable skills, earn high school and college credit, and make connections to jumpstart their college and career goals.

“This isn’t a traditional classroom experience,” says John Anderson, executive director of secondary school support. “CAPS gives students the chance to solve industry problems, guided by professional mentors. It’s not job shadowing — it’s real work experience.”

New and existing program areas include:

• Business, marketing, and entrepreneurship

• Aspiring educators

• Engineering, automation, and industrial design

• Creative computing

• Health and medical studies

• Agriculture and natural resources

The grant will centralize high-end industry tools and specialized programming that are currently isolated to individual schools or difficult for rural districts to sustain. “This collaboration will help shape our workforce by giving students valuable hands-on experience,” says Superintendent Todd McKee. “We are appreciative of the legislators for their support in ensuring every student has equitable access to high-skill career pathways.” 

The expansion is set to begin in the 2026-27 school year. To leverage existing transportation infrastructure, the new campus is proposed for a site adjacent to the Bridgerland Technical College West Innovation Campus.

While the program currently serves 100 students, the new facility is projected to reach a capacity of 900 students through a dual-session schedule.

For more information, visit the Cache CAPS Program website and view the USBE press release.