At a recent joint meeting of the Stanly County Board of Commissioners and the trustees of Stanly Community College, both boards received updates on two projects.

One update concerned a new building dedicated to vocational trades to be built on College Drive just past the cosmetology building near the existing water tower.

The new building will have laboratories for welding, machining, heavy equipment and HVAC classes, along with office space, classroom and storage.

ADW Architects made a presentation to both boards, including a timeline for the new building’s construction. After permit review periods by both the city of Albemarle and Stanly County, construction is tentatively set for this May. The 15-month project is expected to be completed July 2023, with the college moving into the building one month later.

“There has never been a better time for individuals to consider trade careers,” SCC President Dr. John Enamait said. “Job openings are plentiful, and individuals can earn a good living in about half the time it takes to earn an undergraduate degree. The addition of a trades facility on the SCC campus will help even more students succeed at finding a career with guaranteed job security in fields they enjoy. In addition, our students graduate with little or no debt.”

The other project presented at the meeting dealt with updates to the college’s water system. An updated water system is needed, according to the presentation, to accommodate the school’s needs, including the new trades building per the city of Albemarle’s code requirements. The existing water lines are original when the college was constructed in 1976.

Funds for the project came from the Connect NC Bond passed in 2016, which distributed funds for colleges and university for projects such as water and sewer infrastructure. The total cost of the new system is budgeted at more than $3.1 million.

Currently, Enamait said by email, SCC is working with a design team to develop the specifications for the new system. The college has met with designers.