Education and city leaders cut the ribbon outside the St. Petersburg College Douglas L. Jamerson Jr. Midtown Center on Saturday, officially opening up the new $14 million dollar building.
"If you want to change your life, it’s in walking distance of your community," said Dr. Kevin Gordon, the SPC Midtown Campus provost.
The three-story building is located at 1300 22nd St. S in St. Petersburg, in one of the county's poorest areas. The college waived the application fee for students who registered at the grand opening event.
"This is a helpful college right here and it’s right in the area. I live right across the street with my cousin," said student Cyquaile Cheaves. “I’m majoring in criminal justice. ... I was just on my way to seeing an adviser. So, he can waive the fee."
Mayor Rick Kriseman said the Midtown Center will help turn things around for residents in the city's south side.
"To have SPC have a campus right here is really going to take us up to that next level," he said. "This is really all about the kids and giving the kids an opportunity to see they have a chance for a future."
The building features a career center, classrooms, along with science and computer labs. The college offers two-year associate degrees in entrepreneurship and human services. Gordon said there school also offers certification in other areas that don't require as much time to complete.
“If they don’t want to go for two years, they can for six months to a year and get certified to be a medical assistant," he said. "They can get certified computer repair. They can get certified to be an EMT. They can get certified in early childhood education. So, we want this to be the one stop shop for them to change their lives."
Classes for the Fall 2015 term begin on Aug. 17.