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January 24, 2002

Johnston Community College joined with its community college and industry partners Jan. 16 to celebrate the opening of the new Eastern North Carolina Plastics Technology Center in Zebulon.

JCC is one of six community college consortium members that worked to secure an $800,000 National Science Foundation grant to help promote and develop the center’s program in the region. Other consortium members are Edgecombe Community College, Tarboro; Nash Community College, Rocky Mount; Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh; Wayne Community College, Goldsboro; and Wilson Technical Community College, Wilson.

The 8,000-square-foot facility includes a 4,000-square-foot high-bay processing lab with state-of-the-art plastics processing equipment, a computer lab, a classroom, a test lab, and an office.

The center offers courses leading to a two-year associate in applied science degree in manufacturing technology/plastics. Students complete general courses at their home campuses and specialized laboratory courses at the center.

Students may also take selected courses to earn a technical diploma in one year or to earn any of four certificates in one semester. Certificate programs include plastics materials, plastics processing, injection molding and manufacturing technology.

The presidents of each of the six community colleges were on hand to cut the ribbon to the facility. Also in attendance were U.S. Representatives Bob Etheridge (D-2nd) and David Price (D-4th) and state Rep. Joe Tolson (D-71st).