The Lead.
Marion Technical College Opens New Downtown Facility to Expand Innovation, Education, and Economic Growth
Marion Technical College marked a major milestone today with the official opening of a newly acquired facility in downtown Marion that will serve as a hub for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and advanced education.
“This is more than the opening of a building,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, president of Marion Technical College. “It’s the opening of new doors—doors to innovation, education, and economic opportunity.”
The facility, located in the heart of downtown Marion at 107 N. Main Street, will house a variety of forward-thinking spaces, including:
- Additive manufacturing labs for workforce training and prototyping by students, small businesses, and entrepreneurs
- Flexible academic classrooms designed to support learners of all ages
- Updated training space for the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy
- Modern office areas are intended to foster entrepreneurial collaboration and community partnerships
“This building is more than brick and mortar—it’s a promise,” McCall said. “A promise that Marion Technical College will continue to grow, adapt, and lead. A promise that downtown Marion will thrive as a hub of innovation and opportunity.”
The acquisition and renovation of the facility were made possible through the support of local, state, and federal agencies.
McCall recognized key partners at the ribbon-cutting event, including:
- State Representative Tracy Richardson
- Marion County Commissioners Kevin Davidson and Mark Davis
- Marion Mayor Bill Collins
- Former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and the Small Business Administration, whose support helped secure the building
- Ashley Aston, staff member representing U.S. Senator Jon Husted
- Nick Davis, staff member representing U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno
- The Marion Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Marion, Inc.
State Senator Bill Reineke also sent a letter of congratulations to the college on this new step.
McCall also credited the Marion Tech Board of Trustees and the Marion Technical College Foundation Board of Directors for their leadership. He extended a special thank you to business leader Lois Fisher, who has worked to revitalize downtown Marion and helped lay the groundwork for the project.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who played a role in bringing this vision to life,” McCall said.
The new facility represents a bold step forward in Marion Tech’s mission to provide accessible, career-focused education while contributing to the region’s economic vitality.
“This embeds education into the heart of Marion’s downtown. The new facility allows Marion Tech to serve more students with a state-of-the-art facility,” said Heidi Jones, president of the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce.
“For many students who are the first in their families to attend college, walking onto the traditional Marion Campus can be intimidating,” said Dr. McCall. “This provides a more accessible, familiar location to help students achieve their next goal.”
Before the purchase, Marion Tech had rented space in this facility to house:
- Workforce Development programs that offer customized training for local businesses.
- A testing center for those taking professional certifications.
- Free GED© prep and English as a second language classes through the Aspire program.
- The law enforcement academy is in the Brandy Winfield classroom.
- America’s Workforce Development Capital, which promotes Marion as a valuable spot for industry with multiple training options for employees, including Marion Tech, The Ohio State University at Marion, and Tri-Rivers Career Center.
