SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College held a ribbon cutting for the new Emergency Services Training Building on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The new facility serves as an 8,100-square-foot expansion at CCCC's Emergency Services Training Center.

Primary spaces include mat and exercise rooms, classrooms, locker rooms, and administrative areas. The project is just one that is being made possible through the $23 million Central Carolina Community College bond referendums approved in November 2014.

"On behalf of the Trustees and the College, I also want thank the citizens of Lee County who recognized the educational excellence of CCCC and approved the bonds several years ago that is allowing CCCC to expand and improve existing College facilities and construct new ones that will continue to keep CCCC a leading educational institution -- not just in North Carolina, but in the entire United States," said Julian Philpott, Chairman of the CCCC Board of Trustees. "This facility is the first of several projects approved by the voters and that are part of the significant overall vision for the College from the Trustees, administration, faculty, and community leaders. We have a great partnership here at CCCC with the public and our private businesses and industries."

Philpott talked about the service provided by the CCCC Emergency Services Training Center.

"CCCC has provided outstanding training and recertification programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel through this Center since its opening and the renovation and expansion of the Center will allow CCCC to provide even better facilities and higher quality training experiences to an increased number of program participants," said Philpott.

"This training is important. We know that CCCC is dedicated to training students for the workforce and to be part of the economic engine in our service area, the state, and the U.S. But also important is this -- the people who are trained in this facility will also contribute to our quality of life," said Philpott. "We all want jobs that pay well, but we also want to live and work in places that are safe and where we can live healthy lives. Our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel are the first responders when we have emergencies -- and don't we want all want the best trained people assisting us when we have the need? The newly expanded and renovated Emergency Services Training Center allows us to provide the best training we possibly can."

Also providing remarks were Sheriff Mike Roberson of Chatham County, Sheriff Wayne Coats of Harnett County, and Sheriff Tracy Carter of Lee County, as well as CCCC President Dr. T. Eston Marchant.

For information about Central Carolina Community College and its programs, visit its website, www.cccc.edu or call the college at 919-775-5401.