Kellogg Community College invites members of the public to tour its newly renovated Regional Manufacturing Technology Center, 405 Hill Brady Road, Battle Creek, during an open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20.
KCC officials, along with representatives from the College’s community partners, will make brief remarks about the past, present and future of the RMTC at 5:15 p.m. Attendees are welcome to take guided tours of the educational facility at 5:30 and 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be available.
The RMTC is a 48,400-square-foot facility where KCC provides hands-on training in the areas of robotics, mechatronics, heating, cooling, machining, pipefitting, welding, renewable energy and other trades. KCC opened the RMTC in 1990, then expanded it in 1992, 1999 and 2015 before completing a major renovation this year.
The renovation finished recently was a $4.3 million upgrade designed to prolong the life of the facility. It included a reconfiguration of classrooms and offices to serve local employers, dedicated space for Michigan Works! personnel, replacement of the building’s heating and cooling system, replacement of electrical infrastructure, expansion of instructional space and repaving of drives and parking lots. Funding for the renovation included $2.15 million from the State of Michigan, $1.07 million from the Battle Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority, $250,000 from the W.K Kellogg Foundation and $830,000 from KCC’s voter-approved capital millage.
“When Kellogg Community College opened the doors of the RMTC in 1990, we knew this exceptional facility had the potential to become an engine of workforce development in the Battle Creek region and beyond,” said KCC President Mark O’Connell. “Today, we measure the 29-year history of the RMTC and realize it has surpassed all of our expectations, thanks to the strong and ongoing partnerships between the College, the taxpayers of the KCC tax district, Battle Creek Unlimited, the City of Battle Creek and scores of companies and organizations who are committed to building pipelines to careers in skilled and technical fields.”
For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at https://daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.