Grand Opening Ceremonies Held for Business & Technology Center |
 Gov. Ernie Fletcher, President Glasser, Rep. Harry Moberly and Sen. Ed Worley helped dedicate the Business & Technology Center on Sept. 9. Dean Bob Rogow served as emcee. |
Gov. Ernie Fletcher was on hand to help EKU celebrate the grand opening Saturday, Sept. 9, of Phase 1 of its new Business and Technology Center. |
The 78,000-square-foot, $14 million facility, located on the south side of campus near the Perkins Building, features state-of-the-art business classrooms and labs, faculty and administrative offices and the outreach services of EKU’s College of Business & Technology.
Other speakers were EKU President Joanne Glasser and local state legislators Rep. Harry Moberly and Sen. Ed Worley, who were instrumental in securing state funding for the Center. Dr. Bob Rogow, dean of the College, served as emcee.
Pointing to the building’s dome and skylight above her, Glasser said: “The sun is shining today on this center, this academic college, this university, this community and the region. This Center symbolizes a new era, a time when regional comprehensive universities such as EKU are playing a much greater role in community and economic development. We welcome, and we will capitalize on, this opportunity to make a positive difference.
“We know the needs are great throughout our service region,” Glasser added, “but our resolve as a college and as a university to meet those needs is even greater. You’ve heard of ‘No Child Left Behind.’ Our mantra at EKU must be ‘No Region Left Behind.’”
Gov. Fletcher said the Center was the result of bipartisan “synergy” involving the University and local and state government.
“Education is the cornerstone upon which we build Kentucky’s future,” Fletcher said. “This center will provide a foundation for that cornerstone while opening the door for expanded opportunities in this region and throughout the Commonwealth.”
A significant feature of the new facility is an incubator for safety- and security-related businesses that will provide technology-based startup companies access to a rich array of business development resources.
Moberly said the Center represents “the best of our hopes and aspirations for our community and this University.”
Worley said this “great, great day” would not have been possible without a “team effort.”
In addition to a state appropriation, the Center received funding from Madison County Fiscal Court and the Kentucky Economic Development Funding Authority.
