Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 6, 2016, edition 1 / Page 4
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Below: A 2008 bond paid for the transfor mation of the school system's Career Center into Forsyth Technical Community College's Oak Gove Center. The college is depending on this year's bond to com plete its renovation. Photo* by Tbdd Luck Forsyth Technical Community College has a $65 million bond on this year's ballot for its capital needs. $65 million bond for Forsyth Tech set for ballot BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE Forsyth Technical Community College is hoping voters will approve its $65 million bond to help the growing college with -1 I d p 1 I d 1 needs and a new loca tion at IS m i t h Reynolds A i rrw~\rt Green ? I U1 JW* I ? ? B y ctafp law counties are responsible for funding the construc tion and maintenance of facilities at community colleges, so larger capital projects may result in bond referendums like the one that voters will decide this year. "When we need a building, when we need to expand space, the county is where we go for that sup port," said Forsyth Tech President Dr. Gary Green. He said the college' experienced significant growth over the last 15 years, as more people are looking to gain the skills they need in today's chang ing economy. Green said the college's more than 200 curriculum programs are aligned with the jobs and careers that are in demand. Forsyth Tech would like to keep that tradition going with a Forsyth Tech Aviation Center at Smith Reynolds Airport. If approved, the bond will provide $16.6 million to either build or renovate a space at the airport, located off Liberty Street, for the program. It will give students hands-on experience working on the mechanical structure of air planes, so they can achieve FAA certification. "It's instrumental to the growth of the airport," said Mark Davidson, air port director. "The one pAUl thing we're missing is workforce 9Lf T A develop- y V, ment" ?9HM Davidson said it will provide quali fied employees needed by several aviation companies at the airport. He also hopes it entices new com panies to locate at Smith Reynolds. The airport is an eco nomically depressed area of the city. Green said the new Aviation Center will help link the residences to lucrative growth at Smith Reynolds. "It's a good opportuni ty to link those good pay ing jobs in aviation with the community around Liberty Street and around Carver High 3AIGN Shd??',"he |g | -*4B the bond is: ?mMH $ 18 million to complete the renovations that began with the 2008 education bond that trans formed the school system's former Career Center into Forsyth Tech's Oak Grove Center. The money will let the college finish the remaining 100,000 square feet in the building to expand advanced manufac turing programs, student services and house new programs. ? $21 million for a new Learning Commons build ing with a new library and technology center. The col lege needs to replace its aging library for continu ing accreditation. ? $6.4 million to expand the Transportation Center on Patterson Avenue, which trains stu dents to work on automo biles including diesel trucks and motorsports race cars. ? $3 million for infra structure campus needs like replacing aging water lines and demolition of old, unusable buildings to make more room for parking and student activities. Green said Forsyth will be campaigning for the bond through its donor funded Forsyth Tech Foundation, so no taxpayer money will go to the bill boards, signs and other promotions voters will be seeing for it in the coming months. The Forsyth Tech bond will be at the bottom of the ballot, along with a $350 million school bond and a $15 million county parks bond. If all three are approved, Forsyth County property taxes will increase by 3.6 cents per $100 of property value in 2018 with another 3.8 cents increase in 2022. I Start your banking relationship with us. Features: ? No minimum balance ? Mobile Check Deposit1 ? Text Alerts1 ? No monthly service charge when you enroll to receive e-Statements2 ? Online and Mobile Banking1 ? ATM/Debit card A, . ) BNC Beginnings Checking 1 Message, data, connectivity and usage rates may apply Contact your wireless service provider for details. 2 SB monthly service charge for paper statements
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Oct. 6, 2016, edition 1
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