Officials break ground on the new Logan County Area Technology Center during a ceremony held on Wednesday. Photo by Aaron Mudd. 

RUSSELLVILLE — Work on the new Logan County Area Technology Center was marked Wednesday during a ground breaking ceremony.

For Paul Mullins, superintendent of Logan County Schools, the day marks a pivotal moment for his district. 

“Today is a day we begin to open more doors and opportunities for the students in our county as well as beginning to have stronger working relationships with our local businesses,” he said. 

The center will benefit students in Russellville, Logan and Todd counties, Mullins said, along with some access to Hopkinsville and Christian counties. It will plug students in to the opportunities around them, he said. 

“They can leave with a certification to go to work when they graduate,” or prepare for college, Mullins said. 

The project took a big step forward in late July after Logan County Schools Board of Education approved a bid from A & K Construction of Paducah to build the center. That bid totaled $14,787,176. 

Officials put the total cost of the project at $20 million and said the building would be about 68,000 square feet. A drawing of the building’s interior shows facilities for health science, business education and several collaborative classrooms, along with automotive, electricity, welding and machine tool shops. The exterior of the building will be white with diagonal angles and located at 2200 Bowling Green Road in Russellville. 

Workers have already cleared away some trees from the empty field where the building will stand, and Mullins said construction should take about 15 months. The district has bonded the facility and is using matching money from the state. 

Beth Frogue is principal of the current area technology center, which is located on the campus of Russellville High School. During the ceremony, Frogue was given a $10,000 check during from the Gene Haas Foundation. She said the money will go toward supporting National Institute for Medal Working Skills certification for students. 

She sees the new center as a chance to promote “opportunities for economic growth because we’ll have a trained work force.” 

As a machine tool instructor with the center, Mitch Cundiff also looks forward the center’s opening day. 

“First of all, we’re gaining a lot of square footage,” he said. “We’re cramped where are.” 

Cundiff said the layout of the shop at the new facility will be closer to industry standards.

— Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.