Tri-County Technical College breaks ground on Anderson Campus expansion

Tri-County Technical College broke ground on January 16 on a $31 million investment at the Anderson Campus designed to expand and grow workforce development programs.

TCTC President Galen DeHay was joined by College Commissioners and Anderson County government, education and economic development partners to celebrate the expansion that will develop the existing property at the College’s Anderson Campus.

This groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction on an expansion that will create a manufacturing, utilities, transportation and logistics hub to house Power Line Worker (PLW), Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO), Commercial Truck Driving (CDL), Forklift Operations and Safety, Certified Logistics Technician, Mechatronics Technology, Automotive Technology and Heavy Duty Diesel Technology programs on a single campus.

The project involves the expansion of credit programs and non-credit industry certifications that align with area workforce needs and economic growth.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Funding for the infrastructure to support these expanding programs is coming from a combination of College-accumulated capital reserves, state capital reserve appropriations and a federal equipment grant. The College’s Foundation is also soliciting donations from entities and individuals interested in supporting this mission-critical project.

“As an Anderson County resident, today’s announcement is particularly exciting for me,” said Hamid Mohsseni, chair of the TCTC Commission. “This expansion will provide greater access to high-quality programs and resources, helping students gain the skills they need to succeed and strengthening the economic vitality of our region. We are proud of the partnerships that made this possible and grateful for the community’s
support. Together, we are building opportunities that will benefit generations to come.”

TCTC broke ground on the Anderson Campus, its first community campus, on December 2, 2005, and it opened in 2007 with 42,000 square feet of classrooms, labs, learning commons and collaboration space.

The campus serves several of the College’s goals by bringing its services closer to Anderson residents, increasing community involvement, and expanding educational opportunities. The goal was and still is to offer the services and programs where people live and work.

Over the years, it has become a hub for innovation and partnerships.

“One of the most unique features of this campus is our strong collaboration with the Anderson Institute of Technology, which serves Anderson School Districts 3, 4 and 5. Located adjacent to our campus, the AIT offers programs that transition seamlessly into degree pathways at Tri-County, creating a clear bridge from high school to college and career,” said TCTC President Galen DeHay.

“For nearly two decades, this campus has served our students and community. But as our region’s workforce needs continue to grow, so must we,” said President DeHay.

The Anderson Campus master plan includes relocating the Automotive program from the Pendleton Campus to Anderson, developing a new Heavy Duty Diesel program, and expanding the two-year Mechatronics program in its entirety. The full Mechatronics program is also offered at the Pendleton Campus.

The Automotive program’s new 25,000-square-foot facility will support the curriculum’s intensive lab components and needs.

Heavy Duty Diesel is a new offering and will operate in conjunction with the Automotive program. It will be a one-year certificate, a stand-alone credential or an add-on for Automotive students.

A new 13,000-square-foot academic space at Anderson will house the full Mechatronics program.

Mechatronics currently enrolls 350 students at multiple sites (Pendleton, Anderson and Oconee campuses and the Anderson I and II Career and Technology Center). This expansion will allow for students to take the full two-year program at the Anderson Campus, which will be beneficial since most of these students come from Anderson County.

As part of the Anderson Campus expansion, industry certifications such as PLW, Forklift Operations and Safety, Certified Logistics Technician, CDL and HEO programs also will be enhanced and consolidated. The PLW, Forklift Operator, Certified Logistics Technician, HEO and CDL programs will move into new buildings and facilities on the west side of Michelin Boulevard. The CDL building will be 5,200 square feet and the HEO/PLW/Forklift Operations new building will be 11,250 square feet.

The expansion of the existing Corporate and Community Education building will add 1,000 square feet to the current structure for a total of 7,200 square feet.

In addition, outdoor labs will be created for PLW (10,000 square feet), HEO (1.8 acres) and the CDL outdoor lab will increase by 18,000 square feet.

Many of these programs currently are at full capacity and have waiting lists.

The hands-on component is the selling point for these critical-needs programs, all of which are in high demand.

“This expansion is a game-changer for our students, our employers, and our region,” said President DeHay. “These programs form the backbone of our economy and provide pathways to great careers with strong earning potential. In total, this expansion will allow us to serve more than 1,000 students across these eight programs.”

Most students in both the degree programs and the industry certification programs are eligible for Lottery Tuition Assistance and SC WINS, a statewide technical college scholarship program designed to address workforce shortages and provide tuition assistance for students enrolling in critical needs areas.

Three certificate programs, CDL, PLW and HEO, are free to South Carolina residents through SC Wins scholarships. Recipients must be South Carolina residents for at least one year to be eligible to receive the scholarship.

An alternative scholarship opportunity for PLW students is available through SC NEXUS for Advanced Resilient Energy, a federally designated Tech Hub that received a $45 million implementation grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The S.C. Technical College System received a $12.6 million award, and TCTC has been initially allotted $200,000 as a funding source for industry certification programs supporting power grid sustainability.

“Today’s expansion represents an investment in people, jobs, and the future of Anderson County,” said Senator Mike Gambrell. “The Anderson Campus sits near three federally designated Opportunity Zones, maximizing impact on economic development.”

Senator Gambrell added that the expansion will provide easier access to training for residents in these communities and the existing bus service stops at the campus, ensuring transportation is not a barrier for students. He noted the increased visibility for power line technician and heavy equipment operator training, both in high demand. “These programs support infrastructure growth and essential services.”

“This expansion at the Anderson Campus is more than just new buildings—it’s an investment in people and in the workforce that drives our local economy,” said Anderson County Council Chair Tommy Dunn. “As our community grows, so do the needs of our employers. Today’s groundbreaking is about building pathways to opportunity. It’s about preparing our citizens for good-paying jobs and strengthening the foundation of Anderson County’s future.”

“The TCTC Anderson Campus expansion is designed to meet both existing and emerging workforce needs, ensuring our region remains competitive in high-demand technical fields, and will be a game changer for citizens with limited access to these programs in the Homeland Park and small towns in the rural areas of the county,” said Rep. Don Chapman, who represents District 8.

About Tri-County Technical College

Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, business administration, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.