FDTC to plan expansion

By Messenger Staff Reports

Published: January 4, 2009

Florence-Darlington Technical College President Dr. Charles Gould said the college hasn’t given up on the next phases of the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology, despite another wave of state budget cuts.

“Times are tough, but we’re looking at outside sources of funding, potentially through the federal government and other programs,” Gould said. “We’re trying to get money that way, knowing that we’re not going to get money from the state.

“We’ve got a couple of very good prospects, and we won’t know much until after the holidays and sometime into February.”

Gould said he really wanted to start SiMT’s second phase in 2009, which will include the Industrial Environmental Training Center, the Business Excellence Center, the Industrial Research and Development Center and the Manufacturing Incubator Center.

Phase 3 will house the Health and Safety Training Center and the Chemical and Biotechnology Center.

It’s important for the college to complete SiMT’s next phases because of its impact on economic development in the Pee Dee, Gould said.

“With the manufacturing incubator, we would be creating our own jobs for the future and our own businesses that could contribute to the economy in the Pee Dee,” he said.
The SiMT also allows the college to help supply technological expertise that industries need for the future.

SiMT’s first phase was opened in 2007 and includes the Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Advanced Manufacturing Center, which houses the Interactive Digital Center, the college’s Engineering Technology Department and Continuing Education program, the National Robotics Training Center of Excellence and the Florence County Economic Development Partnership.

In the meantime, the college has been asked to prepare a 15 percent reduction plan for July 1, Gould said.

All other programs, for the most part, will be on hold because of the lack of funding.

Gould said administrators must decide what to cut in order to maintain services for the students. He said the college already has reduced its nursing program and is looking at other programs.