KANNAPOLIS — Beginning in May 2015, Rowan Cabarrus Community College’s cosmetology program will have a new home in downtown Kannapolis.
“We’ve been looking for places to move this program for a number of years,” said Rowan-Cabarrus Community College President Dr. Carol Spalding.
Currently housed in several different parts of Cloverleaf Plaza, the college’s certified nursing assistant and EMT programs, as well as its extension center, will be moving to 120 West Ave.
The new location, which was previously a Belk and a towel store, will add 9,000 square foot to the college’s facilities.
“The cosmetology program has outgrown its current space. We have 3 different parcels at our current location. This will allow us to pull them together,” Spalding said.
Currently, the school has 19,000 square feet. The new facility will bring its space up to 28,000 square feet.
“We’ve got a couple of architectural renderings,” Spalding said.
The new facility will create a reception area and cashiering area that will make the building feel more “like a commercial enterprise,” she added.
Wanda Pressley-Altman, program chair over cosmetology, nail technology and aesthetics, said the new location will also provide two to three new classrooms, plus a larger clinic floor and more space for instructor offices.
“This new building has three entrances,” Spalding said. One entrance will be for students and staff, another for clients, and the third will function as an emergency exit.
The new facility will allow Rowan-Cabarrus community College to expand its already popular cosmetology program.
“We have a waiting list for the daytime program,” Spalding said.
Having a consolidated facility will be less expensive to run and will create a more safe and secure environment.
According to Spalding, the college has several funding sources for the project that comes out to a little over $2 million.
Last Monday, Cabarrus County commissioners approved $1.5 million for the project. An additional $329,000 will be provided by the school itself, and the city of Kannapolis gave $150,000 toward the new facility. These funds almost completely pay for all of the up-fitting costs.
Spalding said Rowan-Cabarrus would finance the rest of the cost with a lease that would last for 20 years.
The Rowan-Cabarrus cosmetology program offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.
“We teach everything there is to teach about beauty,” Pressley-Altman said, including about hair, skin and nails.