JASPER, Tenn. - Space limitations at Chattanooga State Community College are causing some qualified nursing students from Marion, Grundy and Sequatchie counties to be turned away from the high-demand program.
At the Marion County Commission's November meeting, board members took an initial step in hopes of one day relieving some of the burden on Chattanooga State's main campus.
The board voted unanimously to apply for a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant that would be used to construct classrooms at the Marion County Regional Institute of Higher Education's new Commissioners Hall.
"This is to build out what is under roof there at Chattanooga State at present - to finish the classrooms, so that we have the ability to offer a nursing program at Chattanooga State in Kimball," Commission Chairman David Abbott said.
The ARC grant requires 100 percent matching funds.
County Mayor David Jackson said Marion has the $500,000 to cover the grant's match requirement from an insurance payout after a fire destroyed the old Chattanooga State site in Kimball, Tennessee, along U.S. Highway 2 in May.
"There will be no money out of the taxpayers' property tax [to construct the classrooms]," he said.
County leaders and Chattanooga State officials have been in discussions about bringing a nursing program to Marion for some time.
"We have some people that live in Monteagle," Jackson said. "It's taking them sometimes two to two-and-a-half hours to get to school [in Chattanooga]."
If the program is brought to Marion's facility, students would be able to complete their full degree there, except for clinicals, which are through Chattanooga-based health care organizations.
Commissioner Donald Blansett questioned whether or not the nursing program was "a done deal" with Chattanooga State if the board spent money to finish the classrooms.
"We will not build it unless we have a signed contract for them [Chattanooga State] to do that, but we've got to apply for this ARC money up front," Jackson said.
He said he didn't know how many classrooms could be built inside Commissioners Hall because an architect and Chattanooga State officials haven't collaborated on a design yet.
"I don't think the average person understands how much room is really in that building besides the [welding classes space]," Commissioner Tommy Thompson said. "It's a large space in there."
Officials plan a ribbon cutting to open the new building for welding classes sometime after the first of the new year.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.