The University of Texas at Arlington
Office of Media Relations

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the $9.7 million, 63,600 square foot Center for Workforce Development at The University of Texas at Arlington are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 16, at 2:30 p.m.

The ceremonies, which will celebrate the cooperative efforts between the City of Arlington and UTA, will take place at the southeast corner of Pecan and Mitchell Streets and include Congressman Martin Frost, Arlington Mayor Elzie Odom, UTA President Robert Witt and Arlington Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Jurey.

The Center, designed to serve as a hub for employment training in a technology-based environment, will house the UTA Division of Continuing Education as well as serve as a satellite office for the Texas Workforce Commission, the Workforce Network, Goodwill Industries, the Women's Center, Tarrant County College, Fort Worth and Arlington Independent School Districts, Texas Rehabilitation Commission, the Small Business Development Center, the City of Arlington, Work Advantage of Tarrant County and the Fort Worth Boys and Girls Clubs. The Center is scheduled for a Dec. 2003 completion.

The groundbreaking ceremonies are expected to include Mayor Odom turning the first scoop of dirt atop a bulldozer. In the event of inclement weather, ceremonies will take place under a tent on Sixth Street.

For additional information, contact Diane Warren, director of the UTA Division of Continuing Education, at (817) 272-3419, email diane@uta.edu or Dan Williams, senior vice president for finance and administration, at (817) 272-2102.

(Steve Weller)