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Northeast State Community College and TCAT Elizabethton broke ground Dec. 5 on the new Carter County Higher Education Center, a $40 million project designed to expand educational opportunities in the region.

Located at 386 Highway 91-N, the project will renovate existing structures and construct new facilities to support Northeast State and TCAT Elizabethton programs.

“The new Carter County Higher Education Center underscores how Northeast State and TCAT Elizabethton work together to serve the people of Northeast Tennessee,” said Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings. “We’re grateful to Governor Bill Lee and members of the General Assembly who have recognized the tremendous value of academic, career, and technical education to our state and communities.”

Tydings said the center is one of 29 major projects underway across the state, funded with more than $1.5 billion in state investments during the last two years.

“Northeast State is proud to be a partner in the Carter County Higher Education Center and looks forward to the positive impact it will have on the prosperity of the people of Carter County,” said Northeast State President Jeff McCord. “The good things happening on this site will no doubt ripple across our region.”

“Today, we break ground not just on a building but on the foundation of countless dreams, aspirations, and opportunities,” said Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby. “The Carter County Higher Education Center will stand as a beacon of learning and growth, shaping the minds and futures of generations to come. Together, we are building a brighter tomorrow.”

The project will add about 71,000 gross square feet of new space. Buildings will include high-bay training spaces, laboratories, classrooms, and administrative, student, and support spaces for academic programs and hands-on instruction.

The facility is scheduled to open in fall 2026, with Thompson & Litton, an architectural, engineering, and land surveying firm based in Wise, Va., overseeing the project’s design.

“I am truly excited about this and proud of the dedicated efforts of countless leaders who have worked to bring this visionary project to life,” said TCAT Elizabethton President Heath McMillian. “The new center and the partnership with Northeast State will help us better serve students and provide more opportunities to gain the skills needed for local careers.”