Staff and dignitaries braved the rain to break ground on the facility’s new 50-foot by 100-foot building that will add another 40 welding laboratories to the facility.

USA Superintendent Bill Watson welcomed the crowd, explaining the initial drive to construct the building resulted from their growing student body. When USA started, the school had 50 students; now they are at 170 strong.

Earlier this year, school officials accepted a $907,000 bid from PDDM of Canonsburg for the project, which he said he hopes will be completed by the start of school. In addition to the 40 new welding labs, it will include adding a classroom area and a CNC plasma machine.

This new building will be erected next to an existing outdoor welding lab along East Main Street.

Utica Shale Academy superintendent Bill Watson greets attendees at Thursday morning’s groundbreaking for its new 50-foot by 100-foot building that will house 40 additional welding labs. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

Watson explained that there are not a lot of bad kids, just disengaged ones, and that is the niche that USA fills.

State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel agreed and that is why she was so supportive of the school’s efforts.

“Utica Shale Academy has the unique ability to help kids find a career path (despite their struggles to do so),” she added.

The project was the first recipient of Gov. Mike DeWine’s Appalachian Community Grant, after seeking to construct the new building and expand the welding, heavy machinery and robotics programs, receiving $2.5 million.

In attendance for USA’s groundbreaking ceremony were Robb Blasdel and State Sen. Al Cutrona, both of whom presented Watson with proclamations on behalf of their respective legislative bodies; Ohio school board member Mark LaMoncha; Columbiana County Commissioner Mike Halleck; Salineville Mayor Chad Bettis and Sheila Vitale on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education.

Utica Shale Academy staff and contractors as well as dignitaries stay dry while waiting for calmer weather before breaking ground on a new 50-foot by 100-foot construction project across the street from the Williams Building Thursday morning. The new building, which they hope to complete by fall, will house 40 additional welding labs. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, who had made USA’s initial funding request when a state-level legislator, was unable to attend due to an engagement at the White House and sent his regrets with Cutrona, his successor.

Remaining grant funds will be used to make improvements at the Williams Collaboration Building to administrative offices, the cafeteria and space for a new junior high school program.

State Sen. Al Cutrona shares regrets from U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli that he was unable to attend the Utica Shale Academy’s groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning. Rulli, who was the initial funding request when a state senator, had a meeting at the White House that conflicted with the ceremony. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)