OAKWOOD — Officials with Lanier Technical College are finalizing the dates to break ground on their new campus in North Hall, something they say is a "win-win-win" for Lanier Tech, the University of North Georgia and the businesses of South Hall.
May 2016 is the target date to break ground on the new 85.5-acre campus on Ga. 365 at Howard Road, and officials are hopeful that the campus can open for the fall semester of 2018. The land for the project was purchased in October at a cost of $6.4 million.
"There were a number of factors that went into play in selecting this. ... Some of the things we looked at were: accessability to (Ga.) 365 (and) an area that was large enough to have a campus," said Dr. Ray Perren, Lanier Tech president, at a gathering Tuesday morning of the South Hall Business Coalition.
Officials wanted to make sure they weren't getting too close in proximity to other technical colleges like Athens Technical College or Gwinnett Technical College.
"This (Oakwood) campus we're on is 43 acres. We wanted something that was at least 50 acres of buildable land," said Perren.
Several new degree programs are also on the docket, which Perren said are likely to come to fruition as the new campus is completed.
These include:
- associate's degree in nursing (Forsyth campus)
- hospitality and tourism (Hall and Barrow campuses)
- marine engine technology (Hall campus)
- occupational therapy assistant (Barrow campus)
- poultry science technology (Hall campus)
Many of those jobs are in demand in Hall County, said Perren, something that went into the decision-making process of selecting the new campus.
"We tried to locate where our graduates are going. We took a look at health care providers. We took a look at industry. We took a look at other employers where graduates are going," said Perren, noting that 40 percent of the school's 5,157 students are enrolled in a health-related program.
Among the buildings that will be constructed at the new campus: training facilities for firefighting technology students, a mock cell tower for wireless technology students and a commercial truck driving range.
"As we build the campus there will be six major buildings: administration building, allied health building, construction building, technical and industrial building ... economic development center and a campus support center that will have our heating systems," said Perren.
The "old" campus will be taken over by UNG, expanding their campus that sits across the street.
