The University of North Georgia (UNG) broke ground Oct. 17 on a new stand-alone Blue Ridge Campus facility.
Some 150 people attending the ceremony, including state officials, community members, university representative and UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs.
Georgia Speaker of the House of Representatives David Ralston, a UNG alumnus who represents Georgia District 7 - which includes Fannin County - in the General Assembly, helped secure $5.5 million for the new Blue Ridge Campus in 2019 fiscal year budget. He said Gov. Nathan Deal's trek to Blue Ridge in May to sign the budget was the city's first time hosting such a visit. Ralston called the new campus "a dream come true."
"This new, permanent campus in Blue Ridge will open doors to both a college education and better job prospects for generations to come in our north Georgia mountains," Ralston said. "UNG's role to provide greater access to quality education will continue to expand, and I am proud to support that noble mission."
Jacobs presented Ralston with a commemorative shovel as a gift for his efforts in securing the new facility.
Jacobs made special mention during the ceremony about how the Blue Ridge Scholars program encourages students to be enrolled full time.
"We're all in on graduating students," Jacobs said. "We are creating a workforce that appeals to businesses and supports economic growth in this community."
The current Blue Ridge Campus has experienced almost 800 percent growth since its opening in 2015, reaching 156 students this fall. It will allow for additional courses in the core curriculum, which means students will be able to spend a longer period of their college career at Blue Ridge.
