Leaders from across the community spectrum gathered April 23 in McDonough to celebrate the official opening of Building B at Southern Crescent Technical College’s Henry County Center.
“What an exciting day for technical education in Henry County,” said SCTC president Dr. Alvetta Thomas to the more than 200 people gathered for the ribbon cutting. “This building is really a dream come true. Thank you to our community, business, legislative and education partners for being here and for your commitment to Southern Crescent Technical College. You all made education a priority and I cannot thank this wonderful community enough for what you have done for your citizens.”
The new structure is 82,500 square feet of state-of-the-art amenities which will be utilized by students in various automotive, medical, computer, and industrial training programs.
“When the community stands up and says education is a priority like you all have, we know it is going to be a win-win for everyone involved,” said Matt Arthur, commissioner for the Technical College System of Georgia. “This building is a true example of teamwork and a community working together for a common goal that’s good for the people. Thank you to the local and state elected officials and the business and education community of Henry County for spearheading these efforts.”
Arthur further discussed the impact of a technical college presence in Henry County by stating, “A skilled workforce will keep Henry County economically competitive.”
State Sen. Brian Strickland, along with state Reps. Andy Welch and Demetrius Douglas, were on hand representing the county’s legislative delegation. Also in attendance were Henry County Board of Commissioners Chair June Wood, McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland, and Henry County Chamber of Commerce President David Gill.
For the design and construction of Building B, the Technical College System of Georgia contributed $20,958,000 in state general obligation bond financing. Henry County contributed $5 million and McDonough donated $1 million in SPLOST funds for this project. Site preparation and construction began in March of 2017.
“We are beyond excited to be celebrating the grand opening for this important asset to our college community,” said Thomas. “The Henry County business, education and government communities have long been supporters of Southern Crescent Technical College, and this project is a model for true collaboration among all of these partners. This building is a great example of teamwork, dedication, and vision and shows the commitment to education and workforce development from the leaders and citizens of Henry County.”
Following the official ribbon cutting for the building, guests enjoyed a reception complete with music provided by students from Ola High School and Locust Grove High School as well as tours of the facility. Building B is the second of eight buildings originally proposed for SCTC’s Henry County location, located immediately east of Henry County High School and the Academy for Advanced Studies, and was built on 25 acres of land donated to Southern Crescent Technical College by the Henry County Board of Education. The 35,000-square-foot Building A opened in January of 2013.
