By NATE KING
Salina Post
On Thursday, March 28, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce's golden shovels turned ceremonial piles of dirt at Salina Area Technical College for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating public-private partnerships and the increased demand for workers specialized in automation.
The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on the south side of the corner of Scanlan Ave. and Derussy Road, the future home of Salina Tech's Industrial Maintenance and Automation program.
Salina Tech President Greg Nichols addressed a crowd that included county officials, community stakeholders, students, alumni, architects, and project donors.
"We are changing and innovating and doing things for the next century," Nichols said. "Two years ago, we spoke with our industry partners and asked, 'Hey, what do you need from us?' And the struggle everyone is having is not having enough employees to replace the retiring baby boomer generation."
Nichols said more and more companies are shifting towards automated manufacturing.
"Getting the machines that they need in their business and manufacturing, you know, somebody's got to fix and repair and maintain those machines," Nichols said. "We are not going to be able to produce every single workforce employment you need, but if you're going into automation, that's a new and innovative thing we can do."
In January 2023, Salina Tech received $1.8 million from the Kansas Department of Commerce to fund almost more of the new 15,000-square-foot building.
"We've raised 80% of the project's overall cost," Nichols said. "As we embark on this, we're going to have new students and new ideas and new thoughts in our community to help grow this community is growing. We've got to do our part to keep the momentum going. Many great things are going on all along this industrial Airport Authority complex. We are very fortunate to have great partners."
The new building marks Salina Area Technical College's first new building construction project in two decades. Nichols said the community has shown strong support throughout the long process of bringing this project to life through generous financial donations and the Salina Airport Authority's donation of 3.27 acres to house the new building.
Brenda Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Salina Tech Foundation, said the fundraising goal to construct the building and equip the new program is $6 million.
Gutierrez said there is a need for a workforce trained to maintain and program advanced robotics, especially locally.
"I think of our neighbors just across the property line with Schwan's and the pizza factory," Gutierrez said. "Also, look across town; one of our other industry partners is Great Plains Manufacturing and all they have with their facilities around North central Kansas. For any business or industry with automation, just like you think about your tablet or cell phone and maintenance prevention, This program is about staying on top of what is happening, forward-thinking, industrial maintenance information."
The new building will house classrooms, shop areas, instructor offices, and an ADC multi-use classroom for larger classes, corporate training and community events.
"This campaign will expand our capacity to serve more students and after several years of record-setting enrollments, we surpassed 1,000 students enrolled for the first time," Nichols said. "Our current facilities are full."
According to Nichols construction on the building is set to begin quickly.
"They plan to work on the building's footings next week and dig in the dirt they have laid over," Nichols said. "Once those are in, they will put down a concrete floor. The vertical supports are in transit and will be here before next week."
College officials say the building will take approximately 12 to 14 months to complete.