NGT plans addition to Toccoa campus

CLARKESVILLE - The North Georgia Technical College Foundation has received a donation of $15,000 from the First Citizens Foundation which will be used in the design phase of a planned expansion of the Currahee campus in Toccoa.

The funds will be used for a pre-design plan on a 12,000 square foot expansion to the Currahee campus. The present building was designed to allow for additional wings as student enrollment increased.

 We are excited to be a part of this project during the preliminary phase, said First Citizens Stephens County Executive Michelle Lamping. "We are incredibly fortunate to have NGTC close by and we're proud to support the college in their efforts to provide quality training and education in health-related fields."

School officials say the present facility has reached capacity and enrollment continues at record levels. The need for additional health care professionals has increased significantly in northeast Georgia, they say, with the announcement of a new 56-bed hospital near Lavonia, the renovated Stephens County Hospital, and numerous nursing homes, rehabilitation, and home health care businesses that require trained medical personnel. Over a third of the students attending the Currahee Campus are currently enrolled in medically-related fields.

The proposed expansion wing will greatly enhance the health-related programs by providing five larger classrooms and two laboratories. The latest technology and medical equipment can be installed to give students the opportunity to train in a state-of-the-art setting. Because there is no science lab currently on the campus, students must drive to Clarkesville to take biology, chemistry and physics courses. Having lab facilities at Currahee will reduce the time and expense necessary for students to achieve their educational dreams.

Ms. Lamping, accompanied by Matt Farrow and Greg Savage, presented the first installment of the donation to the NGTC Foundation Board of Trustees on recently.

 We accept this gift with great pleasure and a deep gratitude to the First Citizens Foundation, said Cynthia Brown, NGTC Director of Institutional Advancement.  Additional space will positively affect the entire campus. By adding 12,000 square feet of space to the campus, NGTC will have the flexibility to enhance the educational experience of all students and allow them to become more competitive in the workplace.