Georgia Northwestern Technical College is one step closer to having a campus in Catoosa County. The State Properties Commission approved the purchase of 36 acres of land Thursday, on Alabama Highway/Georgia 151 and Holcomb Road for the construction of a GNTC Catoosa County Campus.
Now, with the approval of the land purchase, the college will begin the process of selecting a general contractor and construction will begin on the project in late 2013. Construction of the facility will take approximately 18 months and the college anticipates occupying the new campus fall term of 2015.
“Georgia Northwestern Technical College is very pleased to be able to move ahead with our development of the Catoosa County Campus,” stated Pete McDonald, acting GNTC president. “The campus will provide technical education for the citizens of Catoosa County and Northwest Georgia. Technical education is a key component of successful economic development and the focus of the new campus will continue to be the development of a well prepared workforce for Catoosa County and the Northwest Georgia region.”
The architectural firm of Pieper O'Brien Herr was selected to develop all plans relevant to the construction of the facility.
The focus of the Catoosa County Campus will be on planning programs that will supply the advanced manufacturing industries with skilled workers but it will also give GNTC the opportunity to look at needs in health occupations, business occupations, and service industries. The programs that will be housed at the campus will include Business Management, Computer Information Systems, Early Childhood Care and Education, Electronics, Logistics, Mechatronics, Industrial Systems, and Paramedic Technology. The Catoosa County facility has the potential to benefit the entire region.