By Michael Butler

Central Alabama Community College President Jeff Lynn is pursuing the opportunity to locate a college branch in Tallassee. Students could begin taking classes as soon as January.

“It’s driven by the companies in manufacturing and healthcare along with our elected officials,” Lynn said. “We’ve started meeting with business and industry. I think there is a huge need given the distance between us and Tallassee. It only makes sense. I’m trying to push it forward to make it happen. What I need is to make sure I get all the funding.”

CACC has campuses in Alex City, Childersburg, Talladega and Prattville. The Center of Excellence for Innovation and Technology opened last year in Prattville and would have some similarities to what could happen in Tallassee.

“That’s about a 45,000 square foot facility,” Lynn said. “It’s about $25 million. I’m not sure if this one would be that size or not. It would be a little bit different.”

Lynn is looking at Tallassee High School as an option for classes on the front end.

“It would be a partnership with the board of education using their facilities. We have SACS approval to use their facility. What we really need to do is build something nice and new.

“This is hypothetical. If we started in January and got the funding set aside, at the end of ’27 we could open a brand-new facility. That’s not only going to help our companies, but it’s also going to help recruit additional companies.”

Much of the offerings for students eyeing workforce jobs will be specific to industry needs, but Lynn said students would be offered all classes needed to complete their studies.

“My goal would be for this facility be a full-service place to get their full two-year degree and then go to work or go get more education. If you think about the drive time and companies within that drive time, it screams we need a campus here. I see that vision.”