Representative Troy Announces $3 Million to Lakeland Community College's Engineering Building Project

COLUMBUS - State Representative Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) last week announced that the Controlling Board has approved $3 million in funding to renovate Lakeland Community College’s Engineering Building.

“I have always supported the necessary facility upgrades at Lakeland Community College that provide greater educational opportunities for the citizens of our area. In my previous tenure in the State Legislature, I worked to earmark state funds for numerous buildings at Lakeland, including the Engineering Building on the campus. Now, many years later, it is imperative that we upgrade this facility with the necessary improvements to address today's workforce training challenges. Northeast Ohio's manufacturing and high-tech industries are actively seeking the trained employees who they need, and these improvements at Lakeland will go a long way in assisting them in that effort.  I am pleased that the State of Ohio will make this investment and address the critical need to prepare future advanced manufacturing and engineering technicians," said Representative Troy.

This project renovates 35,089 square feet of existing space and expands the college's industrial and advanced manufacturing labs by 14,484 square feet. 68% of the project's total space is dedicated to instruction and training, with that programming driven by employer workforce directed requirements. The remaining space consists of student collaboration and study areas, hallways, entrances, restrooms, and mechanical rooms.

Additional space in the building will be used for new programs that train in welding robotics, CNC robotics, metrology and metallurgy; and added programming and safety measures within the welding and fabrication labs.

The funding will also be used for replacing the industrial labs exterior walls from a translucent building system to a "storefront" brick and glass system. This is an improvement in asset physical safety and will reduce energy and maintenance costs.

This appropriation will reduce $3 million of added local borrowing by the college, thus saving Lakeland significant debt service interest costs over the next 25 years.

Representative Troy was previously given Lakeland Community College's Public and Community Service Awards for his efforts in securing funding for many of Lakeland's campus buildings and improved state funding for Ohio's two-year colleges.