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Elected officials, business leaders and educators gathered to break ground on Pellissippi State Technical Community College's new Blount County campus Thursday, which is scheduled to open in 2010.

The new $22 million campus will be located at 2731 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Friendsville. The new 39¬½-acre campus is being funded through the sale of the existing Blount County Center, 1010 Middlesettlements Road, Alcoa, contributions from both private individuals and businesses and $17.2 million from state funding.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a new campus," said Pellissippi State President Allen Edwards. "Today is the big payoff for all your work," he told the stakeholders attending the event.

Educators and officials have been wanting to build a new Blount County campus for all 15 years of Edwards' presidency, he said.

State Reps. Joe McCord and Doug Overbey and State Sen. Raymond Finney have pushed hard to keep the campus on the to-do list in Nashville, said Jerome Moon, Pellissippi State Foundation Board of Trustees member.

"This is a great event for Blount County," said Dr. Matt Murray, chairman of the Economic Development Board of Blount County.

Pellissippi State has had a presence in Blount County for a long time and the new campus will give the college "an opportunity to create a landmark for the county," he said. The new campus "will be a great asset to Blount County. Education and workforce development are the most important things we can do locally to improve (Blount County)."

Pellissippi State has been a wonderful citizen for many years and their economic impact has been immeasurable, said Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham. "Their educational impact has been phenomenal. They have opened doors for so many (students)," he said.

Pellissippi State "gives students something to be excited about and proud of," student Celeste De La Rosa said. "I learned so much."

"What I learned at Pellissippi (State) has helped me (prepare for) today's world," said alumnus Julius Blue.

Both students have experienced bumps along the way and Pellissippi State has been a perfect fit for the students. Rosa, who is a single mother, thought college was not an option for her.

Blue took a year off after high school and worked at a fast-food restaurant. Blue, who is a pianist, soon realized he wanted to go back to school. "I'm a musician. I don't want to flip burgers for a living," he said.

The community college has become their "home away from home," they said. Pellissippi State employees "really support students and prepare them for the next step," Rosa said.

Rosa and Blue are scholarships students. They were impressed to see and meet the people who have made their post-secondary education a reality. "We saw so many people who have (directly and indirectly) supported us. They're the reason why we can (go) to school and have new technology and further our education," said Rosa.

Mayor Cunningham said he expects to see the college draw students not only from Blount County but from Loudon, Monroe and McMinn counties as well. "This truly (has been) a community effort and it will serve everyone for years to come."

"Education is our best return on investment," said McCord. "I'm glad we're here. We have a long way to go, but we're getting there."