Construction of the Chester Center of York Technical College
Showing Good Progress

April 23, 2008

CHESTER—Construction of the Chester Center of York Technical College off Hwy. 9 is showing good progress. The building—being built by Farley & Associates of Fort Mill—is approximately one-third complete. Construction is scheduled to be completed in November 2008.

Anyone interested in following the progress of the Center's construction online can do so at http://www.yorktech.com/chestercenter/.

The Center’s primary mission will be to provide post-secondary education for the citizens of Chester County, including training in industrial and engineering technology to help expand economic development. The Center will also offer business, computer, arts and science courses along with health-related courses. The higher education facility will also be equipped with distance learning capabilities which can be linked to the campus in Rock Hill along with other training related sites.

Block laying for the facility is nearly complete, and very soon the structural steel will be erected to allow for the roof system to be installed. Electrical, plumbing and communication systems are being installed in the walls as they are constructed. Work on the brick veneer is scheduled to begin soon.

To help make the Chester Center of York Technical College possible, the York Technical College Foundation's Capital Campaign Committee has raised $2.1 million towards a goal of $2.6 million for the project. The next phase of the capital campaign was announced last week at the Chester Chamber Business After Hours held at the Center's construction site.

Members of the committee are David Shinn (co-chair), Bessie Vastis (co-chair), Ed Duffy, Mike Enoch, Bobby Holcombe, Lucille Mackey, Bill Marion, Angie McCrae, Joe McElwee, Tony Pope, Tucker Redford, Brian Singleton and Speedy Starnes.

"The completion of the Chester Center of York Technical College will be a milestone event for both York Technical College and Chester County," said York Technical College President Dr. Greg Rutherford. "The Center will allow us to significantly expand our course offerings in the Chester community."

York Technical College has seen the number of credit and non-credit students grow at its transition location on Saluda Street. This spring, enrollment in credit classes has grown to more than 200. The college offers short-term non-credit and credit courses. The college also offers classes at other sites in the county.

The new Mechatronics Lab established at the Chester County Career Center will move to the Chester Center of York Technical College and be a great asset for economic development. The lab was funded by AdvanceSC and a Community Development Block Grant. The college's Practical Nursing program, which is offered at the Career Center, has also been a great success, now training 20 students each year.