RCCC works to finalize lease on Research Campus

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has received authorization from the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges to enter into a lease agreement with Castle & Cooke Inc., for a 62,332 square-foot building to be constructed on the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis.

The building will house RCCC’s newly established biotechnology programs, developed by the college to train local residents for career opportunities at the NCRC. The state board gave its authorization at its Feb. 20 meeting.

RCCC President Carol Spalding reported to the college’s Board of Trustees that RCCC is resolving some final details with Castle & Cooke. Spalding said she anticipates the college completing negotiations and signing the lease agreement later this week.

Once the agreement is signed, Castle and Cooke will work with its lender, who will have 15 days to approve the deal.

“With the current economic conditions North Carolina is facing, this is a positive statement by the state board and an indication of its confidence in RCCC to meet the education and job-training needs of residents and the developing biotechnology industry in Cabarrus and Rowan counties,” Spalding said.

“We look forward to breaking ground for the RCCC building and seeing construction begin in the coming weeks.”

RCCC’s building at the Research Campus will house its associate-degree programs in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology and continuing education programs related to biotechnology and clinical research.

RCCC hopes to open the building in time for its fall 2010 semester with the focus of providing instructional space for hands-on biotechnology training in a realistic research and development setting.

The facility will include multiple science and computer laboratories and multiple classrooms with a full array of technology to enhance teaching and learning. The cost of the building is expected to be approximately $26 million.           

“We are excited to provide the training programs needed for the jobs of the future,” said Ray Paradowski, chairman of the RCCC Board of Trustees. “It’s important our local residents have an avenue to the career opportunities the NCRC is creating. RCCC is proud to provide such a link for our two-county region.”   

Students can begin taking introductory courses this summer in RCCC’s biotechnology programs. The college’s associate in applied science degree program in biotechnology will prepare students for jobs in a biotechnology laboratory. Program graduates can pursue employment as lab technicians, research assistants and quality control associates. This associate degree will enable graduates to work with different types of employers.

including small testing labs, large manufacturers, government laboratories and research universities.

The AAS program in agricultural biotechnology will help meet the demand for skilled laboratory technicians in various fields of biological, chemical and agricultural technology. This program will prepare graduates to work as research assistants to biologists and chemists, laboratory and instrumentation technicians, and quality control/quality assurance technicians. Graduates will pursue positions with various industry, university and government employers, including jobs in research and development, manufacturing, sales, customer service, and the production of bioengineered crops.

“For every Ph.D. or MD position created by the NCRC, at least five other positions will be created for which RCCC can provide the needed education and training,” Spalding said. “RCCC’s biotechnology programs will provide access to local residents for opportunities at the NCRC. These programs also provide transferable credits for students who decide to pursue a four-year degree.”