JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Kimball’s Chattanooga State Community College campus has played host to a ribbon cutting for its brand new Beth Jones Institute of Nursing facility.
Many from across Marion County’s government bodies and organizations, including staff and students of Chattanooga State, gathered together in celebration for the facility’s grand opening. Named in honor of Beth Jones, Executive Director of Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETD), the new facility has been under construction since 2022. It was constructed with the purpose of bringing the college’s nursing program closer to home, where nursing students local to the county can attend class without the need to travel to Chattanooga, while also providing students in the area with additional educational opportunities in the community.
During the ribbon cutting, it was recounted that County Mayor David Jackson and Dr. Martina Harris of Chattanooga State have worked together as colleagues for some time regarding the Kimball campus. Harris noted the project was presented to her during a meeting at Western Sizzlin in Jasper, where the project and funding for it was discussed . She expressed her thanks to college president Dr. Rebecca Ashford for lending her the charge to help oversee the project. In addition, she noted how the ribbon cutting serves as a new beginning for all involved with the campus.
Dr. Ashford recalled the moment when Harris brought the idea of expanding the nursing program to the Kimball campus to her, which she enthusiastically agreed and reached out to Mayor Jackson to further discuss. She stated because of much collaboration and dedication by all involved within the project, the nursing program in Kimball can be fully realized with the new facility.
“Because of the amazing partnership, leadership, and support of so many individuals, we stand here today to truly and fully offer our registered nursing program here in Marion County,” said Ashford.
Mayor Jackson noted the facility was named in honor of Beth Jones for her dedication and drive to help make the facility become a reality, acknowledging her tireless efforts supporting its establishment for the community. He additionally noted how the project was ultimately a major conglomeration conducted by many individuals and organizations, ranging from developers and engineers to city officials of various county departments, including members of the county commission. Jones herself took to the crowd to express appreciation for the honor, while stating how the county and various industries from the start took the project as a step forward for economic and academic development for the community. She felt this step was ultimately vital for the community in terms of establishing educational opportunities for current and future generations looking to enter the workforce.
“Now we’re into skill trades and skill jobs. And you have to have access in your community to enable your young people and your adults to better themselves, and to empower them to make more money and take skill jobs,” said Jones.
The new facility includes several labs and classrooms that students can partake in for both prerequisites and during lessons in the registered nursing program. In addition to the new facility, the idea to also construct a new trade’s school facility with Chattanooga State at the original Battle Creek Road property was also mentioned during the ceremony, with Mayor Jackson hoping to further expand the county’s educational opportunities to even greater heights.