The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College announced today, June 27, that it will be closing the Haynes Building at A-B Tech Enka by September 3o, in an effort to save $540,000 in operating costs for this year.
The Haynes Building currently is only 50 percent occupied and A-B Technical Community College is relocating most of the remaining 31 employees and services in the building to its Asheville campus. Three tenants are being offered space elsewhere at A-B Tech Enka.
This action was approved by the college’s Board of Trustees on Monday, June 22, as well as the decision to eventually close the Technology Commercialization Center and sell the A-B Enka 37 acre property donated to the college by the BASF Corporation in 2000.
The TCC houses the college’s Small Business Center, Business Incubation program and 18 incubation companies, the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast and the N.C. BioNetwork.
According to Dennis King, A-B Tech President, the plan to eventually shutdown the TCC and sell the Enka property will not be occurring anytime soon.
“There are no plans to sell the property at this time,” King said. “It is going to take considerable time to find suitable locations for all of programs, work with BASF on the environmental remediation of a brownfield, and assure that we are meeting requirements set forth by the state for selling our property.”
“I am saddened by today’s announcement that Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College will be closing down the Enka Campus,” State Rep. Brian Turner, whose district includes A-B Tech Enka, said. “For years A-B Tech has been an important member of the Enka community, and this move will be felt far beyond the campus borders.”
King said A-B Tech remains committed to the Enka-Candler area, which has been an important provider for the college during its 56 years of operation. He said the area will be an important consideration as the college seeks a new location for a South Asheville campus.
“Certainly nothing is going to happen for at least a year or longer,” King said. “We are absolutely committed to finding a new location or locations for the programs in the TCC, which are critical to A-B Tech.”
Press Release from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College:
A-B Tech Community College announced today that it will vacate the Haynes Building at A-B Tech Enka by September 30 to save $540,000 in operating costs this year. The college’s Board of Trustees approved the action at a special called meeting on Monday evening.
The building currently is only 50 percent occupied following the departure of A-B Tech’s Emergency Services division to its new Woodfin facility in January and the relocation of Western Carolina University’s Asheville location to Biltmore Park in 2012. The college is relocating most of the remaining 31 employees and services in the building to its Asheville campus. Three tenants are being offered space elsewhere at A-B Tech Enka.
A-B Tech Enka is a 37-acre property on Sand Hill Road road that was donated to the college by BASF in 2000. The site also includes the Technology Commercialization Center (TCC), which houses the college’s Small Business Center, Business Incubation program and 18 incubation companies, the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast and the N.C. BioNetwork.
The board also approved the eventual closing of the TCC and sale of the Enka property, but that plan is contingent upon finding suitable locations for all programs, environmental remediation of 11 acres of property still owned by BASF, and following state procedures for the sale of public college property.
“There are no plans to sell the property at this time,” said A-B Tech President Dennis King. “It is going to take considerable time to find suitable locations for all of programs, work with BASF on the environmental remediation of a brownfield, and assure that we are meeting requirements set forth by the state for selling our property.
“Certainly nothing is going to happen for at least a year or longer. We are absolutely committed to finding a new location or locations for the programs in the TCC, which are critical to A-B Tech.”
State Rep. Brian Turner, whose district includes A-B Tech Enka, also weighed in on the decision.
“I am saddened by today’s announcement that Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College will be closing down the Enka Campus. For years A-B Tech has been an important member of the Enka community, and this move will be felt far beyond the campus borders.”
“This was not an easy decision,” said A-B Tech Board Chair Joe Brumit. “We have to make decisions based on the budget that we’re given by the state and county. I understand that people would like to see the Enka campus stay open, but looking at the school as a whole, it is one the few places we can cut funds by consolidating activities. However, we are committed to taking the time that is necessary to properly relocate the valuable programs on this campus.”
King said A-B Tech remains committed to the Enka-Candler area, which has been an important feeder for the college during its 56 years of operation. He said the area will be an important consideration as the college seeks a new location for a South Asheville campus.
About A-B Tech
One of 58 colleges in the North Carolina Community College System, A-B Tech offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in more 50 curriculum programs through its five academic divisions: Allied Health and Public Service Education, Arts and Sciences, Business and Hospitality Education, Emergency Services and Engineering and Applied Technology. The Division of Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education offers opportunities for workforce partnerships, specific job training and retraining, as well as personal enrichment classes. A-B Tech enrolls more than 25,000 curriculum and continuing education students in programs at its Asheville, Enka, Madison, South, Woodfin and Goodwill locations.
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