Butler County Community College officials will break ground in Ford City on Friday to begin construction on a new facility.

A news release from BC3 said the new Armstrong County location will consist of four classrooms, a multipurpose room, a natural science laboratory, student meeting space and staff and faculty offices. It's intended to replace a five-year-old college facility in Manor Township, accommodating the college's growing enrollment in Armstrong County.

Armstrong County commissioners signed a memorandum of understanding with BC3, allocating $250,000 toward the construction of the approximately 12,500-square-foot facility, and other businesses and state grants are also financially supporting the $4.5 million project.

Elected local and state officials, several project donors and others are expected to join representatives of BC3 at the groundbreaking ceremony Friday. The event is set for 2 p.m. at 1100 Fourth Ave. in Ford City, the site of the former Ford City Junior-Senior High School.

Armstrong County officials expressed excitement for the project in a news release, saying that it will bring people and business to Ford City.

“Any time you increase your foot traffic or traffic into a community, there are going to be dollars spent,” said Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian. “That's a good thing for Ford City. That's a good thing for Armstrong County.”

Karen Zapp, director of BC3 @ Armstrong, said BC3's current home in Manor Township was a “great place to begin.”

“We've enjoyed the small, kind of cozy atmosphere that we have had, which gives our students the opportunity to get to know each other and learn about college in a friendly environment,” Zapp said. “We're hoping to expand that into our larger facility.”