Groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for new technical college in Ashland

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ashland campus of Ranken Technical College is set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Ranken, a St. Louis based school, offers bachelors and associate degrees along with certificate programs.

Ashland's Ranken campus will focus primarily on programs for construction trades, information technology and medical training.

The college will also offer degrees and certificate programs for automotive, architecture, electrical, manufacturing, and advanced and continuing education.

Bill Lloyd, project manager and chair of the Southern Boone Economic Development Council, said the project started to increase the number of technically trained workers coming out of schools and training centers.

The $6 million campus will be located on five acres east of Highway 63 and south of the Ashland overpass with construction likely taking a year.

According to a news release, the college is being paid for, in part, by a $4.5 million dollar grant to the Southern Boone County R-1 School District in Ashland.

The grant was awarded to construct the Central Missouri Workforce Development Center, a technology training center for construction trade, medical services, information technology and industrial engineering.

The project will also receive $3 million from Investing In Tomorrow's Workforce, after the group raised money for the campus.

The college is expected to create 163 jobs and generate $9 million in private revenue.

 In addition to its main campus in St. Louis, Ranken has locations in Wentzville and Perryville.

Guest speakers are set to attend Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony, including Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden.