Following roughly a year and a half of construction, the new $46.3 million Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) campus in Roane County celebrated its official grand opening on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony drawing over 300 attendees.

Completed both ahead of schedule and under budget, the state-of-the-art facility is located adjacent to Roane State Community College in Harriman. TCAT Roane County President Chris Ayers presided over the event as master of ceremonies, highlighting the transformative educational and career opportunities the campus will bring to the region.

Key Highlights of the New Facility:

• Workforce Development: Designed to train the next generation of skilled professionals, the campus will support high-demand industries including welding, construction, commercial truck driving, chemistry, and medical technology.

• Nuclear Industry Support: Graduates are expected to play a vital role in fueling East Tennessee’s expanding nuclear sector.

• Collaborative Pathways: Its strategic location next to Roane State Community College allows students to easily connect with additional academic and career programs.

• Leadership Presence: Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora Tidings joined local, state, and education leaders for Tuesday’s celebration.

The campus is now officially open and welcoming students from Roane County and the surrounding region. Local broadcasters announced that full coverage and exclusive interviews from the ribbon-cutting event will air throughout the week on upcoming daily newscasts.