WENTZVILLE • St. Louis-based Ranken Technical College is seriously considering adding a satellite facility in Wentzville.

Susan Flayer, the trade school's marketing director, said Wednesday that city officials approached the school and that the idea is being looked into.

One factor is determining what type of training needed by companies in the Wentzville area for existing and new employees, she said. "We're open to these kinds of things," Flayer said.

Mayor Paul Lambi said the city is talking up the idea of Ranken using 8,000 to 10,000 square feet in a vacant 66,000-square-foot building on the CenturyLink campus for training classes. The building was formerly occupied by Verizon Wireless, he said.

He said that will be discussed at what he says will be an "education/technology event" Thursday at CenturyLink. 

He said city officials also hope to get St. Louis University to offer some engineering courses there.

In a related move, the Carpenters Union plans to offer training for its members at a former trucking depot purchased by the union at 755 Parr Road near the General Motors assembly plant.

John Gaal, director of training and workforce development for the Carpenters District Council, said the facility also will serve as a new union hall for four locals in the St. Charles County-Warren County-Lincoln County area that are merging into one.  Those locals have been renting space, Gaal said.

The facility also will offer a more convenient training location for members who live in those counties but now go to a training center in Affton.  The Affton facility will remain open, Gaal said.