PARKHILLS – Mineral Area College will host a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the opening of the Industry and Technology Center Expansion on Thursday, August 15, 2024. The expansion project includes an automotive shop, classroom, and the Cardinal Center event space, completing the approximately 100,000-square-foot facility on the college’s Park Hills campus.
The ribbon cutting will be held at 1:30 pm in the Cardinal Center, located at the northwest corner of the building. The event will be held in partnership with local Chambers of Commerce and is open to the community. Attendees can tour the entire facility, including the newly completed spaces, until 3:00 pm.
According to MAC President Dr. Joe Gilgour, the Industry and Technology Center was made possible by support from the state of Missouri and reflects Governor Mike Parson’s prioritization of workforce education in the state during his time in office.
“We cannot say thank you enough to State Representatives Mike Henderson and Dale Wright, and State Senator Elaine Gannon for helping to make this possible,” said Gilgour. “Their support, combined with the vision of Governor Mike Parson to expand workforce development training opportunities throughout the state of Missouri, is invaluable and greatly appreciated.”
The Industry and Technology Center expansion allows MAC to bring automotive technology training to the Park Hills campus, which is an in-demand addition to the career and technical offerings available in the region. Automotive Technology classes begin this fall in the state-of-the-art facility, with an emphasis placed on Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification to ensure the employability of graduates following completion.
Dr. Keith Zoromski, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, noted the new program will help address a regional employment demand by providing well-prepared technicians to serve local businesses, who continue to collaborate with the college to ensure workforce-ready graduates.
“The Automotive Technology program furthers our institutional mission as it will serve the community by providing students with a quality, affordable education and offer opportunities for personal growth and career development in a safe, professional environment,” said Zoromski.
Another exciting feature of the expansion project is the Cardinal Center, a dedicated event and meeting space available for college and community events. With flexible seating for up to 250 and audio-visual capabilities, the facility can be used to host a wide variety of corporate and community events. Information about Cardinal Center rentals will be available at the ribbon cutting.
This expansion project completes the Industry and Technology Center, the cornerstone of the MAC Tech Complex, which, along with the William Dickerson Welding Technology Center and HVAC Technologies Center, gives Mineral Area College more than 100,000 square feet of facilities to prepare post-high school students for their transition into the workforce.
“We’re thrilled to see the completion of the Industry and Technology Center expansion,” said Gilgour. “The Automotive Technology program, along with other MAC Tech programs, will bring economic benefits to the region by providing students with greater access to quality postsecondary career and technical education without leaving the area.”