Northwest Mississippi Community College President Michael Heindl and staff members are discussing with Charleston and Tallahatchie County officials plans to turn the former Charleston National Guard armory into a Delta region educational center.
The city owns the 19,207-square-foot facility and the five acres of land on which it stands on South Cossar.
Northwest Mississippi Community College President Michael Heindl led a delegation of officials from the college to tour the Charleston armory on April 26.
Officials have said the armory, which sits largely vacant and unused except for periodic community activities, is a facility that can support the development of a wide range of educational programs serving the Delta.
Among possibilities being discussed is the establishment of a nurse training program at the armory.
During the visit last month, NWCC Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Stephanie Mullins met with Tallahatchie General Hospital CEO Jim Blackwood and nursing administrators at the Charleston hospital and nursing home to discuss opportunities and issues related to possible health care training locally.
NWCC Vice President of Instruction and Parallel Programs Matthew Domas also toured the Charleston armory as part of the delegation. Domas will review the layout of the building and possibly start the development of educational workforce programs.
Workforce development programs in support of industrial growth in the region, especially along I-55 in Grenada County are one possibility.
Recently, Charleston Mayor Sedrick Smith and representatives of the Meek Foundation met with officials at the Grenada Development Authority and Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, which is constructing a large plant on I-55 near Grenada. It was learned in this meeting that Milwaukee Tool will need hundreds of new employees to staff two new plants, one of which will begin operation in November.
“These are good-paying jobs, and Charleston is perfectly positioned to support this growth,” said Meg Sinervo, executive director of the Meek Foundation, which arranged the Grenada meeting. “There is a great opportunity to offer good jobs to area residents but also to attract new citizens to Charleston for employment opportunities and affordable housing in the community.
Oxford Developer Clarence Chapman with Chartre Companies is considering developing in Charleston housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents, Sinervo added.
