TRENTON — A crowd of more than 100 gathered at the new Technical Trades Center at the Lenoir Community College Jones County Center last week to attend the ribbon cutting and celebration of the new facility.
LCC President Brantley Briley welcomed the guests and expressed the college’s appreciation to the Golden LEAF Foundation for its support.
“This facility was funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation and we appreciate their support for Lenoir Community College,” he said.
A $580,000 Golden LEAF community assistance grant was secured by LCC in October 2011, which funded Phase 3, the new Technical Trades Center. This new addition added 6,390 square feet to the current center.
Mark Sorrells, senior vice president of the Golden LEAF Foundation, praised the efforts of the college to provide training to the citizens of Jones County. He also recognized the efforts of the public school system and the county government.
LCC Jones County Center Director and Dean of Continuing Education Renee Sutton said the Jones County campus currently has 18,890 square feet, consisting of three workshops for gunsmithing and construction trades, two state of the art computer labs, two nurse aid labs, five classrooms and nine offices. The campus is also the host site for the Jones County JobLink Career Center.
The following programs of study will be offered at the new Technical Trades Center: Sustainability Technologies, Construction Trades, Welding, Plumbing, Carpentry, Cabinet Making, Electrical, HVAC, Machining, forklift training and OSHA training.
LCC Board of Trustees Carol Hood and Bobby Daughety, both of Jones County, recognized special guests and shared with the group the history of the center. LCC Board of Trustees Chairman Grady Bethel expressed his appreciation to those who attended.
Jones County Board of Commissioners Chairman Frank Emory told the group that just like the many things in the foundation that the building was built on, there were many things and people behind the foundation of the educational efforts in Jones County.
The Jones County Center began operation in the summer of 1973 with two classrooms and an office for the director. The unit was housed in the old Trenton Middle School. Before then, classes were held in homes, churches, community centers and schools around the county.
A request was made to the Jones County Board of County Commissioners for a budget to take care of the heat, lights, and janitorial supplies needed to run the facility. A $600 budget was set.
By the spring quarter of 1973-74 school year, two more classrooms were added and additional classes were held at the center. Classes continued to be held at various sites around the county.
From 1974 until 1984, the Board of Commissioners budgeted for various improvements and changes to the center.
In 1982-83, $1,000 was budgeted for improvements and used to partition the masonry shop into classroom space. Classes began in this building in 1982.
In the summer of 1984, the General Assembly granted LCC $100,000 to improve the facilities in Jones County. A house was purchased on N.C. 58 South and the first classes were held November 12, 1984. The building had 3,750 square feet. An addition was built in 1997, adding an additional 3,869 square feet, which included a welding shop and a nurse aid classroom.
Officials began working in 2006 to secure state and local funds to build a new campus in Jones County even though funding seemed elusive. The first phase included a 7,400 square foot building. The groundbreaking was held in June 2008. The ribbon cutting was held in December 2009. At that time Phase II was also opened, which included a vocational shop and three additional classrooms, adding an additional 5,100 square feet.
The $580,000 Golden LEAF Community Assistance Grant funded the Technical Trades Center.