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Work begins on new $13M Greenville County Schools facility

Jason Thomas //September 26, 2022//

Work begins on new $13M Greenville County Schools facility

Jason Thomas //September 26, 2022//

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Work has begun on Greenville County Schools' Career and Technical Education Innovation Center. (Rendering/Provided)

Work has begun on a nearly $13 million innovation center with Greenville County Schools.

The $12.7 million Career and Technical Education Innovation Center will be located on the Roper Mountain Science Center campus, and was "created to house future-focused, innovative programs that have a growing presence in Greenville County,” according to a post on the district’s website.

The center, to open in August 2023, spans over 29,000 square feet, and will house programs in aerospace technology, emerging automotive research, cybersecurity/networking, clean energy technology, and automation and robotics.

“The Innovation Center will be the first in the state to offer Emerging Automotive Research and one of few offering Aerospace Technology, Cybersecurity/Networking, Clean Energy Technology, and Automation and Robotics, all of which give students a competitive advantage for the future workforce,” Katie Porter, program director for the center, said in the post.

The classrooms and labs are designed to allow students interested in these STEM-related (science, technology, engineering, math) career paths the opportunity to problem-solve and collaborate in a real-world setting using equipment that aligns with current industry standards, according to the post.

“The CTE Innovation Center will continue to elevate the profile of Career and Technical Education in Greenville County. These five, innovative programs will launch students on a direct pathway to high-demand, high-wage career opportunities,” Eric Williams, executive director, Career and College Readiness, said in the post.

Each program aligns with post-secondary options in both two-year technical college and four-year university programs and will equip students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in both a post-secondary setting and the global workforce, the post stated. Students in these programs will be able to pursue high-wage STEM careers such as engineering (aerospace, automotive, civil, mechanical, software), programming, aviation, design, information technology, research, solar power, analytics, development and technical solutions.

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