West Central Technical College Foundation announced Tuesday that it had received a 38-acre land gift from Orchard Hills Golf Properties, LLC valued at $1.7 million. The property is located off I-85 near the future Poplar Road site of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. Initial funding for the building program could come in next year’s legislative session.

“West Central Technical College has been holding classes at the Central Educational Center (CEC) since 2000, and for that entire time, we’ve been talking about a Coweta Campus,” WCTC President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “This will be a full-service campus that will really show Coweta County the best of what West Central Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia can offer. The fabulous dual-enrollment programs at CEC are just a taste of what is to come in terms of economic and workforce development. We will expand dual-enrollment and we will offer high-tech, in-demand training for the jobs this global economy demands.”

The property is located off of Turkey Creek Road about a mile from the proposed Poplar Road interchange and approximately a mile and a half southwest of West Central’s current home.

“Our group has been actively involved in locating a campus for West Central Tech in Coweta County, as well as other endeavors to improve the quality of life for both residents and our industrial community,” said Orchard Hills representative James Van S. Mottola said. “All of the members of Orchard Hills are aware of the importance of West Central Technical College. Even without the economic challenges of our country and our region currently, high-quality education invites improvement all around.”

The foundation anticipates that legislators next year will appropriate $8.5 million to help with construction at the new facility. Commenting on the importance of technical education at the May 26 event was Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson.

“The Technical College System of Georgia is the technical education engine that drives Georgia’s workforce, and the new Coweta campus will be a strategic education and training asset to the area,” Jackson said. “Soon, thousands more students from throughout the area will have easy and affordable access to some of the finest technical education programs in the nation. And that’s how we’ll measure our success, by the career opportunities the new campus will provide for each and every student.”

GreyStone Power Corporation CEO Gary Miller, who chairs the foundation’s major gifts campaign, expressed appreciation for Orchard Hills significant contribution to the Coweta community.

“The nation’s economy is suffering through the worst recession in 30 years, with real estate especially hard hit. And what do we find here but a group of people who see a need in this community and step up to meet it,” Miller said. “They are making an investment in Coweta County that will pay for itself many times over in the lives of people who earn an education and impact this community for good.”

Miller said while the land donation isn’t the start of the effort to locate a campus, it isn’t the end, either.

“The Foundation has committed to this campus. We have the land now, but we are still out in the community, actively seeking funds to help with construction,” he said.

West Central Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties, offers over 90 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Central last year served over 10,000 students including credit enrollment, adult education, ESL classes, continuing education and corporate training. Last year, West Central Tech was the fastest-growing technical college in the state of Georgia.

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