Construction began this week on one of the largest building projects in the history of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.
"This is one of the most innovative projects in NCTA's history," said Weldon Sleight, dean of the college in Curtis. "Two new buildings, a major addition and several renovation projects will transform NCTA into an institution capable of providing technical and business instruction that will allow its students to return to rural communities as agriculture and business enterprise partners/employees."
Planning for the project began in 2007 when state Sen. Lavon Heidemann led a legislative committee analysis of the NCTA campus. The committee determined that faculty were well positioned to educate students for the future, but that the campus, founded in 1913, needed new and renovated facilities - a new classroom/laboratory facility, student union and residence hall.
In May 2008, the Legislature agreed to provide state funds for the Education Center but required NCTA to fund the student union and residence hall, and to raise $1 million to match the Legislature's $8.7 million appropriation.
More than 350 donors contributed, and within six months the $1 million requirement had been met.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/78d