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Some 250 attend ATC groundbreaking ceremony

          HATTIESBURG - It is Pearl River Community College President
William Lewis’ opinion that an Advanced Technology Center will be a wise investment for South Mississippi.
          “We believe that this is a landmark day for all of South Mississippi,” said Lewis. “The Advanced Technology Center will become our institutional crown jewel. This is a unique opportunity for South Mississippi.”
          Lewis made his comments Monday during groundbreaking ceremonies for the ATC, which will offer specialized workforce training. Construction is expected to take 14 months. The $3.73 million center will be built on Sullivan Drive in the Hattiesburg-Forrest County Industrial Park.
          “It’s one more opportunity for us to say to people outside the state of Mississippi, ‘We’re on the cutting edge. We want you to come join us.’,” said Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, keynote speaker.
          Some 250 dignitaries braved chilly temperatures to attend the
event.
          The two-story building will include the PRCC Workforce Development Center staff offices, three classrooms, two computer labs, a business incubator and equipment and facilities for a variety of training programs, including remote sensing, GIS, program logic control, industrial maintenance and computer networking.
          “It’s flexible enough to provide whatever training is needed,” said Gray Swoope, president of the Area Development Partnership and a member of the center’s advisory council.  Successful centers the advisory council studied were not located on
college or university campuses although they were affiliated with them, Swoope said.
          “That makes a statement in itself,” he said. “It’s more flexible for the employer to have that access near by. All your training can be done right around the corner.”
          The groundbreaking brought personal and professional satisfaction to Ted Alexander, retired PRCC president. “It’s the last major project that I was able to work on for Pearl River,” he said. “We’ve got a leg up on economic and community
development that people don’t really realize.”
          The state Legislature appropriated $8 million in 1999 for construction of advanced technology centers in Forrest and Jones counties. A $1 million local match was required for each.
           The two centers promise greater economic development, said Richard Jones,
ADP treasurer.
          “It’s going to broaden the horizons of this area,” he said. “It shows that things will work when all of the entities come together and work for a common goal.”
          Groundbreaking for the Jones County facility - Southpoint Advanced Technology Center in Ellisville - is expected in June, said Ronald Whitehead, Jones County Junior College president.
          “The infrastructure work is still being done and we’re still working with the architect,” he said. “The two centers will work together and utilize the strengths of both institutions.”
          Funds spent for facilities such as the two advanced technology
centers are wise investments, Musgrove said.
          “Over and over and over again, businesses and companies want
good people, skilled, trained people,” he said. “That’s why it’s
essential.”
         Tracie Fowler, formerly one of the Workforce Development Center's Training Project Managers, has been selected to serve as Programs Coordinator for the Advanced Technology. 
       “The ATC will play an important role in creating a workforce that can help business and industry become more competitive in a global marketplace,” said Fowler. “My job over next year will be to develop those programs and have them ready to go when the doors open.”
  HATTIESBURG - Pearl River Community College student Jessica Smith of Hattiesburg sings the National Anthem Monday during groundbreaking ceremonies for the Advanced Technology Center, which will be located on 12 acres in the Hattiesburg-Forrest County Industrial Park. Listening to Smith are, from left, PRCC President William Lewis and Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. Some 250 people attended Monday’s ceremony. The Mississippi Legislature set aside $4 million to build the ATC, along with a $1
million match in local funds - $500,000 from the city of Hattiesburg, $400,000 from Forrest County and $100,000 from the Asbury Foundation. Gov. Musgrove delivered the keynote address.