Future Maricopa teens will have more local options for building their career skills.

Maricopa City Council last night unanimously approved a land lease for the Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology, better known as CAVIT, to build a satellite campus in the city’s Heritage District.

CAVIT is a public career and technical education high school offering programs in fields such as welding technology, fire science, physical therapy and veterinary science at its campus in Coolidge, 35 miles east of Maricopa. The school serves 11th and 12th graders from partner districts including Maricopa Unified School District and A+ Charter Schools.

The new campus will rise on a 5⅓-acre site at Madison and Garvey Avenues, across from the Pinal County Complex. The property once housed Maricopa’s former city hall and was later reserved for a police station site.

The city offered the land through a bidding process open to companies and organizations “seeking to support youth and senior services, retail, office and projects” in Maricopa. Under the approved lease, CAVIT will pay the city $24,000 in annual base rent.

Councilmembers praised the decision, calling CAVIT a perfect fit for the community.

“I couldn’t think of something better for that piece of land in the City of Maricopa,” said Vincent Manfredi. Amber Liermann highlighted CAVIT’s role in engaging students who thrive outside of traditional classroom settings.

“If you have a non-traditional learning child, they will love CAVIT,” she said. “For juniors and seniors who are burnt out by 11th grade, this program reinvigorates them. It engages them in their education and helps them choose their future career path.”

Construction will unfold in two phases:

Phase 1, including a front office and about 6,000 square feet of classroom space, is expected to open by July 2028.

Phase 2, adding another 6,000 square feet of classrooms, is planned by 2031.

Editor’s note: Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa.