LISBON — A project to rebrand the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center’s (CCCTC) technology program is now completed, with the two instructors officially moved into their new lab spaces on Oct. 1.

The project began at the end of the 2023-24 school year and was funded from the Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program.

The CCCTC was awarded the $1.45 million grant in March. Some of those funds were also put toward purchasing equipment for the criminal justice program, according to previous reports.

The CCCTC’s goal was to rebrand the interactive multimedia program and offer additional IT credentials as well as expand the IT academy space to give students more room for hands-on learning.

“Our two technology labs both recently underwent renovations to the physical lab space as well as the programs themselves have been rebranded with a new program name and with updated curriculum to meet the needs of 21st century employers,” CCCTC Public Relations Co-Coordinator Elizabeth Wright said.

She added that the new program names fall under the Ohio Department of Education career pathway of information technology and are Information Technology and Cybersecurity (formerly known as Information Technology Academy), and Interactive Technology and Emerging Media, (formerly known as Interactive Multimedia).

Wright said the physical renovations were started immediately upon the completion of the 2023-24 school year.

“While the length of time to complete the renovations did exceed the estimated completion date of late August, the renovations have now been completed,” she said.

An overview of the project was presented to the CCCTC board of directors during its September meeting by Patrick Lankey of Strollo Architects.