Growth at Chisholm Trail Technology Center continues…and in multiple ways.

Local leaders were on hand Thursday afternoon for a groundbreaking ceremony that will house a new program for the technology center as well as provide a larger space for a program started just six years ago.

The 15,000 square foot building will sit on the east end of the campus.

The south end will be the site of a new electrical trades program CTTC will begin upon its completion, which is currently planned for August 2025.

Once that begins, CTTC will have 10 programs offered on its campus.

The north end of the new building will facilitate the technology center’s welding program.

That program now has two instructors, David Wilczek and Laramie Lopp.

“Many of you are familiar with our welding shop that was built in 2018,” Kurt Thomas told those on hand.

“We’ve outgrown what we built that for, which is a good problem to have.”

The current welding facility is 3,400 square feet.

“We’ll have more space, so we can have more students in there,” Thomas said. “We’re excited about that and look forward to getting this building up.”

The project also entails creating 20 new parking spaces near the new building.

Additionally, once the welding program is able to move into its new facility, a construction trades program will be set up in the space that’s freed up.

The new building was designed by LWPB Architecture.

Joe D. Hall General Contractors will serve as the construction manager for the project.

Thomas said it’s estimated to cost $5.1 million, which, he said, CTTC will pay for with its own funds.

CTTC staff joining Thomas at the ceremony included Wilczek, Lopp, Principal/Site Director Ronda Simpson, Assistant Principal Bill Taylor and Small Business Manager Dan Craig as well as CTTC board members Loren Parham, Rondi Andrews, Debbie Biehler, Dustin Brodrick and Jeff Hyatt.

Local business leaders attending included Pioneer General Manager Blake Callaham and Marketing, Sales and Service Vice President Kim Grellner as well as Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shauna Rupp.