AN ACT appropriating funds for a regional fire and rescue Training center on the campus of fayetteville TECHNICAL community college.

Whereas, the Board of Trustees of Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) is planning to construct a Regional Fire and Rescue Training Center, which will be the first of its kind in eastern North Carolina; and

Whereas, the facility will span 30 acres of property, split into two campuses in the Cumberland County Industrial Park near the County Sheriff's Office Training Center and Animal Control Shelter; and

Whereas, the first campus known as the Technical Rescue Complex will provide classrooms, rescue areas, and other specialized training grounds. The facility will also support FTCC's Public Service curriculum, which will include courses in emergency management, fire technology, and fire training. The new facility would allow FTCC to offer new classes, such as fire investigation/arson certification, thermal image school, vehicle extrication school, and high angle rescue technician; and

Whereas, the second campus known as the Burn Village will be equipped with burn towers and structures. This campus will provide live fire buildings, apparatus bays, technical rescue areas, and specialized training areas; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Community Colleges System Office the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) for the 2021‑2022 fiscal year to be allocated to Fayetteville Technical Community College for the construction of a Regional Fire and Rescue Training Center, which will enable state of the art training for first responders in Cumberland County and surrounding areas.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.