Board Approves State Funding Match for Construction of Career Technology Center

MONROE, Mich., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, the Monroe County Community College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to make $8.5 million available – through funds held in reserve and gifts it has received – for the college's 50 percent match for the construction of a 71,300-square-foot Career Technology Center.

The facility was included in the State Building Authority Financed Construction Authorization signed into law Dec. 21.

The total authorized cost for the facility is $17 million, with $8,499,800 coming from the State Building Authority, $8.5 million from MCCC and $200 from the state general fund.

Under the same resolution that made the funds available, the Board authorized the intent of the college and The Foundation at MCCC to move forward on a capital campaign that will allow MCCC to adjust the contribution amounts between college reserves and gifts while still providing its $8.5 million share of the cost of constructing the Career Technology Center.

The facility will provide infrastructure to support state-of-the-art classrooms and lab space required to deliver instruction and skills necessary to secure high-growth, high-demand and high-paying jobs.  

It will allow for the updating and expansion of existing programs now housed in the East and West Technology buildings, which are inadequate to meet modern technology needs.  

These include program areas such as nuclear engineering, welding, construction, computer-aided drafting and manufacturing, electronics, quality assurance, and automotive engineering and service with an emphasis on hybrid and battery technology.  

In addition, the Career Technology Center will provide facilities and equipment necessary for the development of programs in the emerging areas of advanced manufacturing; alternative energies such as wind, solar and fuel cell technology, and sustainable and green technologies.

"The new Career Technology Center will dramatically increase MCCC's instructional capacity for existing and new technology programs in response to the needs of our existing local business and industry," said Board Chair William J. Bacarella.  

The single-story facility will be located in the campus corridor between the Life Sciences Building and the Welch Health Education Building.  It is anticipated that construction will begin in July with occupancy in September 2012.

For the full release, please go to:

www.monroeccc.edu/news/10-11/Career%20Technology%20Center.pdf.

SOURCE Monroe County Community College