Baton Rouge Community College leaders broke ground Wednesday morning on the Capital City Construction Lab.

In a ceremony with architects, community members and representatives from the Lowe's Foundation, which is partnering with BRCC on the project, the school ushered in its latest effort to meet a rising demand for construction workers. The project is funded by the Lowe's Foundation Gable Grant, a $50 million fund to support the training of 50,000 people in trade skills over five years.

BRCC received $850,000 from the foundation for the 4,434-square-foot lab, which will open in April. The project is estimated to cost about $1 million.

"This facility makes a clear statement," Sarah Barlow, BRCC provost and vice chancellor for workforce and student development, said at the groundbreaking

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