New LCC Jones County campus opens

TRENTON - It's a new era for Lenoir Community College in Jones County.

After 10 months of construction work, the college's new facility - located along N.C. 58 across from the Jones County Industrial Park - was completed ahead of schedule. The 7,400 square-foot facility cost $1.1 million to build and will be home to nearly 500 curriculum and continuing education students in Jones County.

Officials didn't give up on building a new campus in Jones County even when funding for a new site seemed elusive. Since 2006, LCC worked to secure local and state funds to build a new site in Jones County campus in two phases.

Construction work for the second phase is scheduled to begin in about two weeks. State inspectors will visit the Phase-1 facility Tuesday for a final inspection.

"The new building is a very good thing for Jones County residents," LCC Associate Dean of Students Renee Sutton said. "Our enrollment has increased 130 percent in recent years."

Sutton will serve as the LCC Jones County Director and expects the new facility to open for students in late April. For now, officials are still moving furniture and other items into the new facility.

Four full-time and 23 part-time instructors will serve the new site, which has six classrooms and office space. Norstate Contractors Inc. of Greenville built the facility based on Wilmington-based firm BMH Architects' design.

"It's a beautiful building," LCC Vice President of Administrative Services George Vick said.

Vick said the old LCC Jones County building near the new site will likely be sold. The proceeds could be used to fund a third-phase construction project in Trenton.

"The second-phase construction plans were under budget," Vick said. "We could move forward on a third phase."

The new LCC Jones County campus is located on 9 acres. Officials were able to secure about $1 million in state bonds in 2007 to help finance the deal. The Jones County Commissioners also agreed to pitch in $250,000 towards the project over the next five years.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.

LCC Jones County Phase-1 project highlights:
-7,400-square foot facility opens for students in late April
-Cost $1.1 million to build on 9-acre campus
-Includes six classrooms and office space
-First of three - phase project completed in Jones County