New McArthur Center in Vinton County Celebrates Grand Opening

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(McARTHUR, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine visited Vinton County today to celebrate the grand opening of the University of Rio Grande’s new McArthur Center.

Funded with a grant of nearly $12 million from Governor DeWine’s Appalachian Community Grant Program, the new building has nine state-of-the-art higher education classrooms, a computer/science lab, and dedicated manufacturing facility to prepare students for the area’s most in-demand jobs, including healthcare and advanced manufacturing.

“The new opportunities brought by the McArthur Center will be transformative for Vinton County,” said Governor DeWine. “By offering affordable and quality education close to home, more of our young people will stay here to build their careers, raise their families, and contribute to a stronger economy for Ohio’s Appalachian region.” 

The McArthur Center will also house a new Holzer Heath System community health clinic to meet the significant need for primary healthcare services in Vinton County.

“Communities grow stronger when people can access the resources they need to learn, work, and thrive close to home,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “The University of Rio Grande McArthur Center brings education, workforce development, and healthcare services together in one place, creating new opportunities for residents and helping build a brighter future for Vinton County.”

As part of his commitment to provide better state support to Ohio’s smaller, rural communities, Governor DeWine worked with Ohio General Assembly in 2022 make an unprecedented $500 million investment in Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region. The funding was awarded as part of the Appalachian Community Grant Program to local projects to create training programs to fill critical workforce gaps, revitalize historic downtown districts and scenic waterfronts, and improve access to vital healthcare services.

“Seeing this project reach completion and knowing the impact it will have on the community is incredibly rewarding,” said Ryan Smith, President of University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. “This is truly a transformative investment in the region’s future. By expanding access to education and training, McArthur can become a hub for workforce development and a key driver of economic growth throughout southern Ohio.”

The Appalachian Community Grant Program is administered by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development. For more information, visit development.ohio.gov.