First in a series
FLORENCE, S.C. – In 2017, Florence-Darlington Technical College announced facility expansions in Lake City and a new culinary arts and hospitality program.
The college will build a new 50,000-plus-square-foot facility in the Lake City downtown area. The facility will include renovated buildings.
“It’s really going to be a state-of-the-art facility with the latest technology used for teaching, training and educating,” said Ben Dillard, president of the college.
Classes in the new site are expected to begin in January 2019. Dillard said the college is building relationships with the local high school and businesses so that students will be likely to find jobs after graduating.
“I think the real positive thing with this particular campus is giving us the chance to grow and expand,” Dillard said.
People are also reading…
The current Florence-Darlington Technical College Lake City campus on West Cole Road has a capacity of 300 to 400 students, Dillard said. The new facility will have a capacity of at least 1,000 students. The campus will be a full-service college, eliminating a long commute for students.
Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority will shuttle students from Florence to Lake City and back.
Dillard said a grant from the Darla Moore Foundation helped make this possible.
At the new campus, students can also take part in a quick jobs program. Students can gain skills in less than 90 days that Dillard said will be transferable to jobs.
The new campus also will include a hotel, The Inn At The Crossroads. Students in a new culinary arts and hospitality program will gain hands-on experience at the hotel and through a new catering service the college plans to begin.
Dillard said the hotel will serve a dual purpose for many students as they work and attend nearby classes.
“This model we’re putting together is fairly unique,” Dillard said. “We think it’s a super way to train and teach and also provide a great service to the community.”
Dillard said the college is working to ensure the community understands the services the hotel can provide. That includes lodging, meeting spaces and a restaurant.
Curriculum for the program has been developed and is currently in the approval process. Dillard said the program should begin in January 2019.
The Darla Moore Foundation made donations to help the college launch the new program.