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Groundbreaking held for Western's Regional Workforce Development Center |
Shovels in hand, from left, Western Carolina University board of trustee member Phil Walker, U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor and Western Chancellor John Bardo braved chilly temperatures to break ground for the Regional Workforce Development Center Tuesday in Cullowhee. The robot on the right malfunctioned, refusing to lift the ceremonial first shovelful of dirt. The robot did, however, lift a sign, welcoming the large crowd gathered for the occasion. |
Shovels in hand, U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.), Western Carolina University Chancellor John Bardo, and board of trustee member Phil Walker braved chilly temperatures to break ground for the Regional Workforce Development Center Tuesday in Cullowhee.
The 28,000-square-foot building will be built adjacent to the existing Belk Building. |
An architect's drawing of the 28,000-square-feet Regional Workforce Development Center planned at Western Carolina University was on display Tuesday as ground was officially turned, marking the start of construction. |
Taylor helped secure additional federal funds, enabling Western to move forward with construction of the $8 million center. The center will enhance the availability of high-technology education to workers in Western North Carolina. It also is expected to help attract new high-tech industry to the region.
"This center is one part of a component that will change Western North Carolina," Taylor said. "It will raise our resources, education and research to a high tech competitive level." That, in turn, he said, would create a stronger economy. |
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Bardo commended Taylor's two-year commitment in securing federal funds. In the omnibus spending bill signed by President Clinton this month, $2 million was included for the center. That added to the pot of $4 million in funding announced last year and $2 million in 1997. Bardo also thanked Orville Coward for his part in enlisting Taylor's support.
During the ceremonies Bardo announced that, if approved by the board of governors and board of trustees, Western will offer a new degree in construction management. The workforce education center is expected to include such high-tech training tools as laboratories for lasers and robotics in manufacturing; facilities for work with artificial intelligence, animation, graphics and geographic information systems; a lab for epoxy laser modeling; and state-of-the-art communications training areas, with commercial-grade television, digital video editing and digital sound recording capabilities. The center also is expected to include space for a Center for Professional Selling, designed to give Western's business students a chance for hands-on, real-world experience in business-to-business selling. The facility is targeted for completion by the summer of 2001. Meanwhile, in what Gov. Jim Hunt called "belt-tightening" to provide funds for hurricane disaster relief in eastern North Carolina, WCU may lose $1.8 million targeted for a fine arts and performing center. At press time, the legislature was in session to consider Huntıs proposal of rerouting $504 million in the state budget. WCU has received about $4.5 million toward construction of the fine arts center, with about $2.7 million spent or under contract to design the building, prepare the site and extend utilities. |
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