51ĀŅĀ×

51ĀŅĀ× has selected the (CCTC) to purchase the Proctorville Center, which is administered by OHIOā€™s Southern Campus, following a competitive bid process.

The CCTC, one of the largest career technical centers in the State of Ohio, is a fully accredited education center that provides employers and adult learners with increased opportunities for workforce training, certification and credentials across numerous, in-demand professional fields.

ā€œThe Collins Career Technical Centerā€™s long-standing commitment to workforce training and certification complements OHIOā€™s regional campuses' educational mission to provide high-quality associate and bachelorā€™s degrees at an affordable cost,ā€ said 51ĀŅĀ× Vice Provost for Regional Higher Education Lewatis McNeal. ā€œWe look forward to this partnership and helping provide increased educational opportunities for the residents of Lawrence County and the Tri-State Area.ā€

The CCTCā€™s vision for the Proctorville Center will involve transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility that stands ready to provide postsecondary technical programming and expanded educational offerings for non-traditional students across the region and tri-state area.

Additionally, the CCTC hopes that the location will allow it to expand its educational training portfolio into new and emerging professional fields, including the allied health industry.

"Collins Career Technical Center has long been dedicated to providing our region with academic and career technical preparation that enables students to advance their careers and give back to their communities," said CCTC Superintendent Adam M. Pittis. "Through partnerships with 51ĀŅĀ× and other local businesses and industries, we can further our shared commitment to offering training, certifications and credentials that will provide individuals across our region with direct paths to employability. This acquisition goes beyond just a new location for CCTC ā€“ it's a symbol of our ongoing commitment to grow a first-class workforce in our region. We are thrilled that we can play a role in maintaining this property's role as a reliable source of high-quality training that enables individuals to work toward a brighter, more prosperous future."

OHIOā€™s Proctorville Center was established through donations to the 51ĀŅĀ× Foundation in 2007. After reviewing and discussing historic and projected facility use, the University determined it was prudent to explore the sale of the Proctorville Center, and the building was designated as surplus property by the 51ĀŅĀ× Board of Trustees in April 2023.

The purchase agreement with the CCTC will be for the building and parking area only. It will also include provisions to ensure that the naming rights of the buildingā€™s original donors are preserved if desired by the donors. The walking track and green space will be transferred to another entity agreed upon with the original donors with deed restrictions prohibiting any development of the land and requiring that it be maintained as green space and a walking track open to the community.

Additionally, any revenues from the sale, after the repayment of any outstanding bonds, will be utilized to further support area education through a combination of scholarships, grant funding and other efforts that would provide opportunities for increased educational support and workforce training to students, teachers and community members.