The Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees approved the project cost for the OTC Republic Center at its monthly meeting Monday, Dec. 10. The board also approved a bid to hire Rich Kramer Construction to build the facility.
The OTC Republic Center will be built on eight acres of land donated by the Bussey, Cox and Lipscomb families. The building will be named the Bussey-Cox-Lipscomb Hall to honor the families for their gift.
The total project cost is $7,295,000, which includes a construction cost of $4.9 million. OTC officials plan to break ground on the project in January 2019 with a goal to be open for classes in August of 2020.
“We told voters if they approved tax levies back in April we would build a center in Republic,” said OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon. “The construction of the OTC Republic Center is another example of the progress as promised commitment that the college made to taxpayers.”
The OTC Republic Center will offer general education courses, such as English, history, mathematics and science.
The 30,000 square foot facility will be located south of U.S. Highway 60 and northeast of Colorado Avenue in Republic near the Christian County line. The OTC Republic Center will be the sixth campus in the OTC system. The college has campuses and centers in Springfield, Christian County, Hollister, Lebanon and Waynesville.