Writer: David E. Malloy
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

ASHLAND -- The Kentucky Community and Technical College system will ask for a $20 million renovation at the College Drive Campus that opened in 1970 as well as an extra $5 million over the next two years when the Kentucky General Assembly meets after the first of the year.

Dr. Greg Adkins, Ashland Community and Technical College president, said if the request is approved, the $20 million would pay for things like a new roof, new electrical, new heating and air conditioning, improved security, improvements to the upper parking lot, painting, a new science lab, new furnishings and equipment.

The request will be included in the appropriation being sought by the Kentucky Community and Technical College system, Adkins said.

The announcement was made following a ceremony marking the end of the college's "Fulfilling the Promise" campaign over the past three years. The campaign had a goal of $3.2 million, but ended up with $5.2 million, Adkins said. The total includes the donation of the former Parsons building in downtown Ashland. The 860,000-square-foot building currently houses the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center.

Adkins said the college's foundation received more than 1,500 contributions in the campaign. The college also has had an increase in students this fall, an estimated 4,769 full and part-time students, an increase of more than 10 percent from last year, he said.

State Rep. Rocky Adkins, Kentucky House floor leader, said legislators are just now getting the requests and it is too soon to determine if the legislature can approve the request for additional funds.

"Our first estimate on revenues is that we're down $108 million, but we'll get another estimate before the session begins," Adkins said Friday night. "It's hard to tell right now how much we have to work with. I am concerned about the possibilities of a very tight budget due to a downturn in the national economy."

"It's hard to be optimistic, but hopefully the revenue picture will improve and we can afford to meet some of the requests," he said.

Adkins said an announcement hopefully will be forthcoming this spring on a renovation of the Parsons building in the 1600 block of Winchester Avenue. The top four floors could be renovated for college classrooms and a 500-seat convention center added.

The college also has talked about moving its nursing program to the downtown location, he said.
The college also plans to fund two endowed professorships in math and science out of the fundraising campaign, he said.

Pat Goodpaster, widow of the late Bob Goodpaster who presided over the Ashland campus for years, and Guy Spriggs, a Tri-State businessman, co-chaired the fundraising campaign.

"I felt it was important to do something for the community," Spriggs said. It also helped that 95 percent of the faculty and staff contributed to the campaign before it was officially announced to the public.

"We're fortunate to have this college here," Goodpaster said. Raising $2 million more than the $3.2 million goal also was a great achievement, she said.