Tooele Technical College president previews expanded campus, ribbon cutting and new branding

Paul Hacking, president of Tooele Technical College, told the Tooele County Council on Jan. 21 that the college has completed the first two phases of a multi-phase expansion and expects a ribbon-cutting on March 28.

Hacking said the expansion increases program space and will add 15 welding booths, a new machining lab and an expanded diesel lab. He said construction work will continue through March and that the college plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony with invited speakers; the governor had been invited but could not attend and the college is trying to secure the lieutenant governor.

"We're so excited to have that," Hacking said of the new space, adding the work will create "a world-class diesel lab" and additional capacity for machining, welding and a future automotive lab if funding becomes available.

Hacking described efforts to acquire a contiguous parcel just west of campus that would allow future expansion. He said the landowner initially agreed to sell the land separately from the building on the site but later decided to sell the property and building together. Hacking asked local leaders for ideas to keep the land available for the college when funding and timing allow.

He described recent state-level attention to workforce-focused higher education and said technical colleges have been identified as a priority for legislative funding. On in-house programming, Hacking noted the college is starting its fifth police academy cohort in February and expects a larger-than-usual class this year: he said about 18 cadets may start the first phase and the second half of the academy could have 24 students.

Hacking also introduced a new visual identity the college plans to use on billboards and other outreach, saying a committee reviewed more than 250 logo variations and selected a bright, arrowhead-shaped mark meant to signal "focus, strength and direction." He said the branding emphasizes the college’s hands-on training and effort to teach "durable skills" employers report they want.

"This logo is not just a mark. It's a movement," Hacking said.

Hacking said the college serves more than 1,200 students annually and that graduation is scheduled for May 8. He asked council members to attend the March 28 ribbon cutting and to notify the college if they have suggestions about the land transaction.

The council did not take action on the college’s requests during the meeting.