KANNAPOLIS — Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will buy land to expand its South Campus location in Kannapolis.

For several years, the college has been pursuing additional property to add to the acreage at South Campus, which is located at exit 55 off I-85. Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus, worked with Cabarrus County manager Mike Downs to negotiate the purchase of three pieces of property, two of which are owned by the college, totaling 25.31 acres, located near the college’s South Campus on Trinity Church Road.

“The college has long recognized the need to keep pace with the growing needs of its communities, especially in Cabarrus County where the population is growing quickly,” said Carl M. Short, chair of the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees. “Rowan-Cabarrus and its leadership continue to impress us with their resourcefulness and ability to creatively solve problems.”

South Campus sits on 23 acres and these properties, which are located directly across Trinity Church Road, were identified as desirable land in an evaluation of potential growth of the college’s facilities in Cabarrus County. The Rowan-Cabarrus Board of Trustees reviewed the information and recommended that the board approve the contract to purchase two parcels of land totaling 16.44 acres near South Campus from Crown Court LLC.

Additionally, Cabarrus County bought a third parcel of property adjacent to the two Crown Court properties, totaling 8.87 acres with a purchase price of $1,241,800.

“We have wanted to expand our South Campus location for years now, since it has always been only a fraction of the size of our North Campus in Salisbury. This additional acreage will accommodate the growth in Cabarrus County and the college’s future over the next three decades,” said Spalding.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s South Campus has also recently undergone several renovations in addition to this expansion project. The South Campus Student Center in building 3000 was recently renovated, in addition to the renovation of the college’s new Spirit Store in building 1000. A newly installed electric vehicle charging station was recently completed at South Campus, and it is located in the building 2000 parking lot area.

For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, please visit www.rccc.edu/apply or call 704-216-RCCC (7222).