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Beaufort Community College gets county approval to buy 3-acre parcel for skilled-trades building
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved the college's request to acquire a 3-acre property adjacent to campus for a skilled trades building and future expansion. The board voted to authorize the purchase at $460,000 after trustees described site benefits, campus fit and state construction funding.
Beaufort Community College won county approval Tuesday to buy a 3-acre parcel adjacent to its campus for a planned skilled-trades building and future expansion.
Dr. Luke, speaking for the college, described the property at 5319 U.S. Highway 264 East as contiguous to the campus and suited to trades programs such as carpentry, electrical, masonry, HVAC and plumbing. He said the parcel includes a house that could be repurposed for college office use and that the land is relatively flat and buildable compared with other on-campus options.
“It's a good location for the building. It would be on the right side of the campus where all of the skilled trades occur,” Dr. Luke said in the presentation.
The college said the purchase would support a Skilled Trades Center and provide parking and room to expand. College representatives told commissioners the continuing-education short-term workforce training programs at the college had grown about 80% over 10 years and that the new facility would help retain and train local workers.
Commissioners discussed the campus plan, funding sources and the state’s SCIF (state construction infrastructure) allocation. The college said it already has SCIF funding and that the county’s prior 2024 allocation of $500,000 toward the project would remain available for construction; purchasing this new parcel would allow the college to site the trades building where it would be most useful.
Commissioner comments were mixed; some stressed long-term workforce benefits and supported the purchase, while one commissioner expressed concern about overall county growth and maintenance costs of additional campus acreage. The board subsequently approved a motion to authorize the purchase at $460,000.
The college said it holds a contingency contract with the property owner pending the board’s decision and that a tenant occupies the house on the parcel until lease expiration. The college will proceed with closing and next steps following the county vote.
