FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The North Central Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Marion County is like just one other community college learning center in the state.
“We’re very fortunate to have this sort of facility here in North Central West Virginia,” said Dr. Johnny Moore, President of Pierpont Community and Technical College.
The ATC was at least a $15 million project started in 2014 in the I-79 Technology Park. A similar facility is located in South Charleston.
Dr. Sarah Tucker, Chancellor for the WV Council for Community and Technical Education, was among those who attended a Monday dedication of the facility.
She said the building and classrooms are designed for flexibility.
“The rooms in this building are not static rooms. They need to be able to move equipment in and out quickly. There are a number of advanced manufacturing rooms in this building. Advanced manufacturing is becoming increasingly important to West Virginia. We have the ability with this building to move old equipment, if you will, out and new equipment in.”
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D) said when he was governor he wanted facilities in the state that mimicked what he saw elsewhere.
“I saw what they were doing in Canada with skill centers, technical skill centers, preparing people for real jobs, real training for real skills for the jobs they knew they needed and could have immediately if they completed a course. We’re doing the same thing right now in Marion County.”
Moore said the center just adds to Pierpont’s versatility.
“Not only do we provide opportunities for students to train for high skill, high wage jobs and start careers right out of school, we also provide them with an option for access and pathways for 4-year degrees.”
Already, First Energy has brought its power systems institute to the tech center to work with Pierpont students.
Manchin emphasized the center opens the way for additional partnerships in education and industry.
“What we’re saying is what type of workforce do you want and what skills do you want them to have? Come right up here; help us write the curriculum for what you want. We’ll make sure that they have those skill sets so when you’re up and running you’re going to have a continuing pool of good employees to work from.”
Pierpont’s School of Workforce Education and School of Health Careers also hold classes in the ATC.