Ranken Technical College to open satellite campus in Perryville

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — In an effort to bring more skilled workers to the region to fill a possibly rising glut of job openings, a new vocational-education facility is in the works. Ranken Technical College is opening a satellite campus in Perryville, Missouri.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning at the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce’s morning networking event, Coffee and Connections.

Ranken Technical College is a private, not-for-profit, degree-granting institution. Its main campus in St. Louis offers programs in fields such as auto repair, construction, information technology and manufacturing.

The curriculum for the Perryville facility has yet to be determined.

“We’re actually going to do a survey, either through the [Economic Development Authority] or the chamber, and we’re going to find out what the industry needs here,” Stan Shoun, president of Ranken Technical College, told the crowd of around 150.

Shoun anticipates three primary focuses: industrial engineering, construction and transportation and logistics.

“There are 13 million unemployed people, but about 4 million unfilled jobs,” Shoun said.

He said those jobs are unfilled because of a skill gap — a lack of people with the necessary skills.

He also predicted more technical jobs soon will open as older workers prepare to retire.

Shoun said the focus of Ranken is to bring skilled tradesmen with a strong work ethic and level of professionalism into the region.

He cited the success of the main campus and the new satellite campus in Wentzville, Missouri, as an indication of the potential of a Perryville campus.

“I put $28 million on the tax roll in St. Louis, and I’d like to do the same here,” he said.

The plan to bring Ranken into Southeast Missouri was a collaborative effort of local county and city government officials and top leaders of several area businesses, including Gilster-Mary Lee, TG Missouri and Robinson Construction.

“Perryville is short on one commodity: labor,” Don Welge, president of Gilster-Mary Lee, said at the event. “If we can find a way to hold more local people in the area, we’ll be so much better economically.”

Welge said a local technical college will allow local people “a chance to learn the skills needed in business in a way that they don’t normally get in college” and help keep those people in the region.

Shoun expects the college, which will be on Walters Lane, to entice students in from a considerable distance.

“We will draw more than just this region. There’s a huge vacuum south of you guys,” he said.

If demand calls for it, Shoun said, housing facilities could be built.

Scott Sattler, executive director of the Perry County Economic Development Authority, said he is excited about the new facility and the benefits it will bring to the region. He said there already are several students from Perryville attending the Ranken in St. Louis, and the satellite school will keep future students in the region and draw in others as well.

“It will be great for the economy in Perry County,” Sattler said.

John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, applauded the news and welcomed efforts to bring more technical training and skilled workers to the region.

A soft opening of the new facility is expected in January. The college will offer day and night classes, two- and four-year degrees and financial assistance.

“If you’re in one of the work sequences, you can earn up to $15,000 a year on your on-the-job training sequence.” Shoun said. “We think that’s the future of kids funding their way through school.”

Full-time tuition is about $14,000 a year.

Shoun said instructors would be brought in from the main campus to teach in Perryville for the first year, but they are looking in the region for qualified instructors, most of whom will come from the industry.

“We will do a good job,” Shoun said, “and be a great return on investment.”

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

Walters Lane, Perryville, MO