South Washington County Schools celebrated the opening of its new Headwaters Life Skills Program building in Cottage Grove last week, marking the completion of a project designed to give young adults more opportunities to develop employment, independent living and other skills.
Students, families, district staff, community partners and residents gathered Oct. 1 for an open house and ribbon cutting at the new facility, located at 7000 Jamaica Ave. S. Visitors were able to tour the building and see program showcases in the life skills kitchen, classrooms and sensory spaces, along with resources offered by community partners.
Headwaters serves young adults ages 18 to 22 as they prepare for life after high school. The district's transition services focus on post-secondary education and training, employment and independent living, with students gaining practical experience intended to help them move toward greater independence.
The opening follows more than a year of work to create a larger, purpose-built home for the program, previously known as Next Step Pathways. Construction began in July 2025 after the district purchased the former Light the Way Church property for $1.7 million in September 2024.
With the new facility including a 9,000-square-foot addition to the existing building, the expanded facility includes a culinary lab, maker space, horticulture learning area, work-based experience spaces, a multipurpose room and specialized sensory areas, as well as outdoor learning spaces and gardens.
The South Washington County School Board approved the new SoWashCo Headwaters Life Skills Program name in April, replacing the Next Step identity as the program prepared for its move to the Jamaica Avenue campus.
The completed building now gives Headwaters a dedicated setting where students can practice many of the skills they will use beyond the classroom, while also connecting them with employers and other community resources. The district described the opening as a milestone for its transition programming and an investment in helping students gain hands-on job experience and greater independence.