Northeast State’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing Northeast State's Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for a 15,000-square-foot expansion. The expansion in Kingsport, Tennessee, adds work force development capacity adjacent to the existing 26,000-square-foot facility, according to a written statement. The extra space will provide for expanded content delivery for both credit and continuing education programs. In addition, the project will add machine tool technology to the programs now offered, significantly increasing the college’s machine tool capacity, the release states. The project will also allow for increased dual enrollment opportunities. Nov. 17 marked the first day of construction and the $2.6 million project is expected to be completed in August 2017. RCAM is Northeast State’s primary off-campus facility for training a qualified work force for the region’s manufacturing sector. The courses may be used to fulfill requirements for associate of applied science degrees and technical certificate programs offered in chemical process operations, electromechanical technology, electrical technology and welding/metal fabrication. The first floor of the two-story building will include industrial-type labs with welding booths and machine tools, as well as tool storage rooms. The second floor will have six classrooms and additional staff offices. The center debuted in 2009 with 94 students and currently enrolls more than 500 students.