MTI celebrates its new campus

EAST COUNTY — Manatee Technical Institute presented its new main campus to the public with a grand dedication ceremony Feb. 14.

Speakers at the event, held at the campus at 6305 State Road 70 E., included Karen Carpenter, chairwoman of the Manatee County School Board; Dr. David Gayler, Manatee Schools interim superintendent; and Bob Bartz, president of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce.

School board officials, MTI Director Mary Cantrell, elected county officials and Doug Wagner, director of adult, career and technical education for the district, participated in ribbon cuttings for the main entrance, the Wagner Auditorium, Cantrell Hall and the east and west wings.

There was also a ribbon cutting for each individual program.

More than 2,000 students a year will be served in the new $44 million 210,000-square-foot building, which offers about a dozen programs, including architecture and construction, culinary arts and manufacturing.