New $27M Regional Workforce Training Center coming to Beaufort County

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S/C. (WTOC) - A major expansion is coming to the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL), positioning the region to meet the growing demands of advanced manufacturing and healthcare employers.

Monday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced a $5,928,210 grant from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The federal investment officially completes the funding for the construction of the Arthur E. Brown Regional Workforce Training Center on TCL’s New River Campus in Bluffton.

Secretary Lutnick announced the award during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Century Aluminum in Charleston, highlighting a vision to “train people not to do the jobs of the past, but to do the great jobs of the future.”

Meeting a Growing Demand

The total cost of the project is $27,428,210. Once completed, the brand-new, 52,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility will significantly expand the college’s capacity, training approximately 850 students annually to enter high-demand fields.

Initially, the center’s programs will focus heavily on:

• Healthcare
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Artificial Intelligence (as workforce needs evolve)

President of TCL, Dr. Laurie Boeding, says the center comes at a critical time as the Lowcountry continues to grow and attract new industries, such as advanced manufacturer TS Conductor in Hardeeville.

“We have approximately 420 jobs that employers need filled in the next few years,” Dr. Boeding said.. “It’s just the ability to put more students into the workforce and help our local regions and economies grow. We’re just about getting more students through the finish line and really getting them to high-value and high-paid jobs.”

The project is also projected to create 420 new jobs and leverage more than $118 million in private investment across Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton counties.

Named in Honor of a Lowcountry Leader

The new center is named in honor of retired U.S. Army General Arthur E. Brown Jr., a foundational leader whose service shaped TCL’s growth. General Brown served as the chair of the TCL Foundation for over a decade and spent 23 years on the college’s Area Commission, including 15 years as its chair.

During his tenure, he helped open:

• The Mungin Center in Hampton
• The Angus Cotton Building on the New River Campus
• The Culinary Institute of the South

“This center is an investment in people,” Dr. Boeding said. “It will prepare students for high-demand careers, help employers build the workforce they need, and strengthen the Lowcountry’s economy. We’re grateful for the partnerships that made this investment possible.”

The training center is the result of years of collaboration among TCL, local governments, regional employers, the Southern Carolina Alliance, and the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation.

What’s Next?

With funding fully secured, the college must complete a few remaining administrative steps with the state and select a builder before breaking ground.

TCL officials expect the Arthur E. Brown Regional Workforce Training Center to open its doors to students in time for either the Spring 2029 or Fall 2029 semester.