FREDERICKTOWN — Dr. Bonnie Coe, president of Central Ohio Technical College and a special guest at the 27th annual meeting of the Fredericktown Community Development Foundation, said she is excited about developing COTC campuses in Knox County. “Everyone has been so excited and supportive,” she said.
Coe hopes the new location will attract students from Knox County and the surrounding area. “Central Ohio Technical College is assigned a three-county area, and as the leadership of the college, we take the assignment very seriously. We are actively outreaching to where they are in the community.”
Recruiting students in Mount Vernon is part of the COTC plan to become an intregal part of the community. “In Knox County we take it very seriously that we’ll be working in Mount Vernon and Fredericktown. Access is very important. We have a long record of ensuring support systems for students.”
Coe explained that classes are very accessible and affordable. High school students will be able to take classes at COTC for early college credit.
She believes the availability of college classes to the community will be a tremendous asset for Knox County.
Coe said the enthusiasm and support from the community will be important for the success of the new campus locations.
“Everyone has been so excited and supportive,” she said. “Students will be given all the support they need. We are excited to be here.”
Mark Blanchard, president of the Fredericktown Community Development Foundation, told those gathered for the meeting that 2007 will be a tremendously exciting year for Fredericktown.
Each month, there will be a special event in the village, part of Frederickown’s bicentennial celebration.
County commissioners Bob Wise and Alan Stockberger discussed county issues and the new development coming to the village.
Rep. Thom Collier told those at the meeting that the improvement of the Ohio 95/Interstate 71 corridor is an important issue for the future of the community. “We’re making sure they have better access to Route 71 for transportation purposes and manufacturing,” he explained.
Collier said he believes the improvements will happen because the community is supportive and involved. “It helps when you have a community that has a vision and is supportive,” he said.
Discussion at the meeting focused on the important development of the area. While attracting families to Fredericktown and businesses and manufacturing to the area, the hometown feeling that people enjoy about Fredericktown could be lost in the excitement. Residents believe that won’t happen.