SALINEVILLE, OH — Utica Shale Academy’s new interior welding lab is almost finished, with work expected to wrap up in the next two weeks.

The 5,000-square-foot facility, located next to the school’s outdoor welding lab at 83 E. Main St., will be used for welding and heavy equipment programs. It will feature 20 welding bays, a plasma cutter, a pipe beveler, and a workspace for heavy equipment training.

Ground was broken in March after PDDM Solutions of Canonsburg, Pa., was awarded the $907,000 construction bid. FMD Architects of Fairlawn designed the project. With additional welding bays added, the final cost rose to about $1.5 million, funded through an Appalachian Community Grant and Ohio House Bill 2.

Superintendent Bill Watson said coursework will be held in the new building, with th

See Full Page