By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At Monday night’s busy session of the Henry County Commission, commissioners voted unanimously to grant the Tennessee Board of Regents a three-year option to acquire land in the county for a new Tennessee College of Applied Technology facility.
The vote followed a presentation by Dick Tracy, Director of Facilities at the Tennessee Board of Regents, who displayed slides showing other new facilities that have been constructed in the state. He said the new local TCAT has a top priority in the state.
In attendance in support of the move were Willie Huffman, director of the TCATs in Paris and McKenzie; Rob Goad, director of the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee; Carlton Gerrell, Paris Mayor; Dr. Leah Watkins, Henry County Schools Director and Shannon Mayo, Director of the Paris Jackson State Community College branch.
Ridgeway noted that the Paris TCAT has been in operation for some 50 years and has served the community well, but new facilities are needed to match the new technology and training required of workers.
The three-year option is for land which the county already owns on the Hwy. 218 bypass across from West Wheel & Tire.
The TBR would construct an approximately 70,000 to 100,000 square foot facility. Under the resolution, the TBR would pay $1 for the option for the land.
Huffman said the new name of the facility would be TCAT Henry Carroll.
Ridgeway said after the meeting that he is optimistic construction of the new facility would begin next year, given that the state has given the project a priority.
Photo: Dick Tracy of the Tennessee Board of Regents make a presentation to the commission. (Shannon McFarlin photo).