TCAT-Henry/Carroll Breaks Ground for New Paris Campus

PARIS — Paris/Henry County officials expressed their excitement for a totally new campus for Tennessee College of Applied Technology -Henry/Carroll to be located at 5215 Highway 218 Bypass, Paris -across from West Wheel and Tire. The Paris campus is a sister campus to McKenzie-based TCAT, located on Highland Drive.

That enthusiasm was evident during the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, November 20 at the site. Prior to the groundbreaking, officials and community members were invited to a press conference at the current campus, adjacent to Henry County High School. When the school relocates, the existing campus will be occupied by the County of Henry and the school system. It’s a win-win for the community as a new, modern campus is constructed and the County of Henry obtains much-needed space in the existing building. The county receives a 67,000 square-foot building worth about $10 million.

Site preparation has begun, and construction is scheduled for February 2025 of the new 99,618-square-foot facility, including an administrative and academic building. The new campus is scheduled to open to students by late fall 2026. Upon completion, the college will be ready to accept students into its existing and expanded programs. These program offerings have been planned through data-driven analysis of workforce needs with the assistance of businesses and industries in the region.

Speaking at the event were Lore Goodgine, Vice President of TCAT-Henry/Carroll, Tanner Ashlock-SGA Vice President, Kyle Spurgeon, board member of the Board of Regents; Dr. Flora Tydings, chancellor, Tennessee Board of Regents; Tennessee State Senator John Stevens; State Representative Tandy Darby; Henry County Mayor Randy Geiger; Paris Mayor Kathy Ray; Rob Goad-Henry County Industrial Developer; Willie Huffman, immediate past president of TCAT-Henry/Carroll, John Penn Ridgeway, president of TCAT-Henry/Carroll, and Aleen Ashlock residence building maintenance instructor.

“This state-of-the-art building will help TCAT Henry/Carroll expand its role as a leading career technical education center for workforce development in our local community,” said President John Penn Ridgeway. “We’re excited to begin construction of this long-awaited facility, which was made possible by Governor Lee’s $1 billion investment in the TCAT Master Plan.”

Chancellor Dr. Tydings said the campus in Henry County represents one of 29 major projects that include new TCAT extension campuses, new buildings on existing campuses, and other expansions and upgrades. The funding was approved by the Tennessee Legislature in the amount of $1.5 billion. Governor Bill Lee endorsed and signed the legislation.

In Henry County, the Henry County Commission approved the plan unanimously, along with the Henry County Industrial Board and the Henry County School System.
This new facility, along with a new administrative/academic building on the branch campus in McKenzie, is funded by the generational investment in the statewide TCAT Master Plan.
In July, 2024, TCAT officials gathered in McKenzie to ceremoniously break ground for the new administrative building on the campus.

President John Penn Ridgeway, who previously served as vice-president at the TCAT-McKenzie campus, said Our motto is “We build careers.” He added that it should additionally read, “We Change Lives.”

He noted the instructors and staff are second to none and praised the students who choose to better their lot in life through training. Ridgeway thanked State Senator John Stevens and Representative Tandy Darby for their support of rural Tennessee, especially the two major projects in Henry County — funding for TCAT and the new expanded highway 641 from Paris to the Kentucky state line.

Dr. Flora Tydings, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, said the new McKenzie facility will replace the one that was held together by ‘duct tape’, a common practice for TCAT officials across Tennessee who know how to innovate. A new influx of state funding of $1 billion will help TCAT centers across Tennessee to modernize facilities. She complimented the McKenzie campus for its operations since the 1960s and Willie Huffman for his service as president.

Willie Huffman, immediate past president of TCAT-McKenzie and TCAT-Henry/Carroll in Paris said the new facility will provide modern facilities for the 59-year-old campus. The new complex will be situated in front and right of the existing administrative building. Once complete, the existing administrative building will be razed.

Huffman said the instructional wing to the rear of the campus will remain. That is where welding, automotive technology, heat and air conditioning, industrial maintenance, and information system technology classes are held.

A walkway will connect the current classrooms to the new administrative/classroom building.