Marcy Duncan concentrated as she turned on the drill. With a high-pitched whine, it bit into a piece of sheet metal.

Duncan, 34, is a student at the new Center for Workforce Innovation. She was learning how to install rivets and fasteners in sheet metal during the metal structures class. "My goal is to some day work for Boeing," said Duncan, 34, of Washington, Mo. "I've worked at Chrysler and I'm a licensed pharmacy technician. I think this course will look good on my resume."

Sponsored by St. Louis Community College, the Center for Workforce Innovation annually will serve more than 500 students. It offers a variety of specialized classes that will provide the type of technical skills sought by employers.

Some courses include automation control technology, industrial maintenance, creating composite materials, working with sheet metal, and electrical and mechanical skills.

"Some companies have contacted us," said Ashok Agrawal, vice-president of academic affairs at the community college's Florissant Valley campus. "With the center, we can help them find the workers they need. Some of the companies include Boeing, GKN Aerospace, and Pepsi."

Work on the new center started about two years ago. Similar training classes overflowed the classroom spaces on the Florissant Valley campus.

"As our training programs grew, we realized that we didn't have the space," Agrawal said. "We started to look around."

The Center for Workforce Innovation is in a former Circuit City store adjacent to the Florissant Valley campus. After a $2.5 million interior renovation, the center started taking students in late July. The grand opening was on Aug. 29.

Some work is still underway. There are currently about 25 students. When it is at full capacity, 75 to 90 students will be taught in single sessions in six laboratories.

During the year, there will be a lot of turnover, Project Manager Becky Epps said.

"These are very intense courses," she said. "Students are here several hours a day, five days a week. The courses can go from five to 10 weeks. When they leave, the graduates will be ready to work."

The center is available for all community college students, for both credit and non-credit courses. It is also available for citizens. The cost can be high, running from $5,000 to $10,000. However, many of these course expenses are covered by grants, including the Missouri Training for Tomorrow, a $12 million initiative started in 2009.

The center is attracting a wide range of students.

"Many are in their mid-20s to mid-50s," Epps said. "With the economy, we're seeing people coming in for extra training. Some are employees working in their chosen field, but looking for refresher courses."

When students apply, the center's staff members talk with them. They ask what the students' goals are to make sure they match with the right classes.

"However, by the time they go to the center, they pretty much know what they want," Agrawal said. "We don't get students who just walk off the street. For those who take the refresher courses, they take the classes that match their jobs."

Cardella Gibson, 59, of Ferguson, is currently a Washington University security guard. However, she has worked in the manufacturing sector for 19 years and wants to get back into it.

She is undergoing industrial maintenance training.

"I've got a nice job, but I liked working in manufacturing," Gibson said.

Work still is continuing at the center. Soon, an "Internet Cafe" with 25 computer stations will be available for the public on a walk-on basis. The computers can be moved, creating a space that also will be used for job fairs and receptions. The center also will offer computer classes.

"We're all very excited," Agrawal said. "When it's finished, it's going to help a lot of people."