CCCC to break ground on Technical Education & Innovation Center

Cloud County Community College will host a groundbreaking for its new Technical Education and Innovation Center on Wednesday, March 29 at 2 p.m. The event will be on the site of the new building – along College Drive between the College and Walmart. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

“I am honored and excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of this monumental facility,” said Cloud County President Amber Knoettgen. “It is a culmination of the dedication and collaboration of our local and statewide partners who support maintaining a vibrant workforce for rural Kansas.”

The now $18 million Center will house Renewable Energy, which includes Wind and Solar Energy and Drones; Nursing and Allied Health, which also offers high-demand career education for EMT, CNA, CMA, Home Health Aide, and IV Therapy; and Agriculture and Industrial Technology, including welding and CDL training.

“The Cloud County Community College Foundation is pleased to support the Technical Education and Innovation Center,” said Heather Gennette, Foundation Executive Director. “This state-of-the-art facility will benefit not only our students, but allow Cloud to continue as a leader in providing a highly trained and qualified workforce.”

Funding for the Center has come from the following partners and grants: $4 million in ARPA funds; $1 million from the Sunderland Foundation; $500,000 from The Patterson Family Foundation; $1 million from the Salina Regional Health Center and Foundation; $1.5 million from the Cloud County Foundation Board; $40,500 in tax credits; $10,000 from ITC Holdings; and $10,000 from Central National Bank.

Construction on the new 33,725-square-foot Center will begin in April, and is expected to begin serving students in Fall 2024. McCownGordon Construction is serving as general contractor on the project.