NASHVILLE - Officials hope to break ground in September on the $17.75 million McMinn County Higher Education Center after the project won final approval Thursday from the State Building Commission.
Members unanimously awarded the construction contract for the 53,330-square-foot center to Knoxville-based Rouse Construction Co.
The center is a collaborative effort among the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Athens, Cleveland State Community College, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture's Extension Services, Adult Education, McMinn County and Athens city governments, as well as local industry.
It's intended to consolidate different educational and career assistance efforts while providing local industry workforce training and offering two-year associates' degrees in agriculture and other services.
TCAT-Athens President Stewart Smith said local officials came up with the idea about seven years ago for an industrial-training facility "to provide training for our mid-size industries so they wouldn't have to build their own training site.
"That has remained as an essential part of the concept, but it's also grown over time," Smith added. "It's allowed us to strengthen the partnerships that we have in workplace development with our community college and our universities."
Adult Basic Education programming will be co-located there and there will be dedicated space for a state career center.
"So it's kind of going to be a one-stop shop for workforce development," said Smith, noting that by being located so closely to the county's largest employer, Denso Manufacturing, the expectation is the center will generate "synergy in both workforce training and development" for the area.
The facility is located just across the highway from Denso's McMinn County plant, which manufactures components and systems for automakers and employs about a thousand workers. Resolute and E&E Manufacturing also supported the project.
"It's a great day to see this finally," said Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, after watching building commission members give final approval. "This is the last step in getting everything approved for the new center in McMinn. And again, it's the culmination of seven years of work between local and state leaders."
Bell credited Smith, McMinn County Mayor John Gentry, Athens Mayor Chuck Burris and Cleveland State President Dr. Bill Seymour with helping come up with the idea and/or moving the project along.
Rep. Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, who also attended the meeting, said the concept provides "focus on training skilled labor and producing a skilled workforce. McMinn County and others in that region have had that focus for a long time, and this is just an incredibly valuable tool to make sure the workforce is improved."
Earlier, Sara Butler, senior vice president with Nashville-based architectural firm Goodwyn Mills and Cawood Inc., told Building Commission members the facility is intended to provide "opportunities to the community to obtain credentials and develop a skilled workforce to serve the local industry needs."
The property was donated by McMinn County's Economic Development Council, is close to Denso and other companies and could accommodate expansion.
Butler said the facility includes space for TCAT programs in areas such as robotics and welding. Another area can be used by industries to provide specific training.
On an upper level there are classrooms for courses including mathematics and a biology and chemistry lab, as well as space for computers and for EMS training and nursing. There are spaces for community-oriented events. The building also includes a student lounge and a cafe.
The TCAT-Athens campus is about three miles away.
Earlier this year, Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora Tydings estimated state government's cost would be $14.23 million, with the remaining $3.4 million coming from other sources.
McMinn County provided the equivalent of $1 million toward the project while the city of Athens contributed $165,000, according to the State Building Commission.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.