The new West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) campus opened in Coweta County nearly a year ago. A report on the status of the new campus and WGTC’s efforts in Coweta was presented at a recent meeting of the Coweta County Commission. The report noted a large increase in the number of students at the Turkey Creek Road campus and the Central Educational Center in Newnan since last fall.

Located on Turkey Creek Road near Interstate 85, the new campus opened in August 2013.

The college’s academic affairs vice president Pat Hannon said WGTC had 637 students enrolled when it opened nearly a year ago. By the spring semester this year, WGTC had 785 students on campus and another 269 at the Coweta school system’s Central Educational Center in Newnan, Hannon said.

Hannon in the update said the two classroom buildings now in use at the Turkey Creek Road campus total nearly 100,000 square feet.

In terms of economic impact, Hannon said the WGTC’s 7-county operation employs 135 people, of which 49 are full-time. WGTC in the seven counties has a $65 million economic impact, Hannon added.

WGTC academic offerings include a wide range of certificate programs, diploma programs and those leading to associate degrees.

Beyond the two buildings currently serving students, the 38.85-acre campus provides sufficient room for expansion. The original site plan previously approved by the Coweta County Commission showed six additional classroom buildings at 20,000 square feet each and an 11,500 sq. ft. maintenance operations building. The site plan also included open space with trails, sports courts and 688 parking spaces.