Moberly Area Community College in Columbia cuts ribbon on new lab

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

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Moberly Area Community College unveiled a new facility at its Columbia campus Thursday morning.

The school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for its new MACCLab-A Community Workspace and Mechatronics Center for Excellence, with Gov. Mike Parson as a guest. The additions will be located at the MACC-Columbia Higher Education Center inside of Parkade Plaza off of the Business Loop.

The 5,000-square-foot MACCLabb will be available to students and the community, according to the school's website. MACC plans to offer daily, monthly and annual passes to the facility. All MACCLab users will be required to take an orientation course before their first class.

The lab is expected to feature 3D printers, laser cutters, a woodshop and other tools. A spokesperson for the college said the MACCLab and the Mechatronics Center for Excellence were both funded by the MoExcels Workforce Initiative.

The initiative run by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development is designed to increase educational opportunities.

The expanded facilities at MACC's Columbia campus will allow students to earn their associate of applied science degree in mechatronics.