Calhoun Community College cut the ribbon on its expansion of the Advanced Technology Center. The center was expanded by 57,200 square feet, allowing for more training in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, welding, machine tool technology, engineering design, mechatronics, CDL training and more.
“Our students now have access to some of the most advanced training labs and classrooms in the state, which means they can gain the skills and nationally recognized certifications that lead to high paying, high demand jobs right here in North Alabama,” said Jimmy Hodges, president of Calhoun Community College.
Funding for the project was made possible through the Alabama Community College System’s ASPIRE 2030 initiative, which provides funding for facility upgrades and new construction for all levels of education in Alabama.
“We have one goal, and that is to be the best community college system in the nation,” said Jimmy Baker, chancellor of the Alabama Community College System. “And we are reaching that goal. People across the country are talking about the jobs available in Alabama, the training that is available and the quality of the people teaching in our system. That speaks volumes about the caliber of facilities we are providing to the community.”
In addition to the expanded classroom and lab space, the facility will support Calhoun’s four nationally recognized co-op programs that provide students with the opportunity to earn a paycheck while they learn: The Aerospace Collaborative Education program, the Alabama FAME Advanced Manufacturing Technician program, the Alliance for Machining Professionals and the Excellence in Process Industrial Controls program.
Calhoun’s FAME Rocket City Chapter recently became the first in the nation to complete FAME USA’s Quality Assurance Accreditation process, which is valid for five years.
The expansion of the ATC was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood and constructed by Bailey Harris Construction with Tucker Jones Engineers serving as structural engineer, MW/Davis Dumas & Associates as mechanical engineer and Jackson, Renfro & Associates as electrical engineer.
