The A-B Tech/Buncombe County Joint Capital Advisory Committee (the Committee) convened a meeting on Friday, July 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in room 213 located in the Simpson Building on the A-B Tech Asheville main campus. Buncombe County Commissioner Martin Moore presided.
In addition to Commissioner Moore, other members of the Committee in attendance were: A-B Tech Trustees Dr. Theresa Banks and Ms. Judy Lewis, Buncombe County Commissioner Mr. Al Whitesides, and At-Large Representative Mr. Robert Lane.
Others present for the meeting included: Dr. John Gossett, A-B Tech President; Mr. Cris Harshman, A-B Tech Vice President of Operations/CIO; Ms. Beth Green, A-B Tech Director of Facilities Support; Ms. Melissa Valko, A-B Tech Associate Vice President of Business Services/CFO; Mr. Matt Evans, Buncombe County Government Financial Planning and Analysis Manager; Mr. Ronald Lundsford, Buncombe County General Services Facilities Project Manager; and Ms. Carolyn Rice, A-B Tech Recording Secretary. Ms. Keri Clark, Buncombe County Government Financial Analyst, participated remotely.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Dr. Gossett welcoming the Committee.
Minutes
Chair Moore moved to approve the minutes from the February 25, 2025, meeting. Mr. Whitesides seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Futures Factory
Dr. Gossett introduced the Joint Advisory Committee to the Futures Factory project, which would advance digital manufacturing in Western North Carolina. The Futures Factory is a building approximately 50,000 to 75,000 square feet big, with 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of space designated to A-B Tech for the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.
The building would be constructed on donated land from Biltmore Park West. An Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant is being pursued to build the building. If the grant is funded, A-B Tech seeks to reallocate $5 Million from Article 46 funds previously set aside for the Pratt & Whitney project to the Futures Factory, which will then be used to get the land ready for construction. An additional $5 Million of General Assembly funds will be used to outfit the building.
Action Item
Chair Moore moved to allow the College to discuss the Futures Factory with Buncombe County staff members, and to request that the Board of Commissioners reallocate $5 Million from the Pratt & Whitney project to the Futures Factory. Mr. Lane seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
A-B Tech Enka
The College wishes to continue with repairs to A-B Tech Enka using Article 46 funds. A-B Tech Enka needs new windows, updated electrical systems, plumbing improvements, and work done on the HVAC systems.
Action Item
Ms. Lewis moved to move forward with the process for repairs and upgrades to A-B Tech Enka. Chair Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Allied Health and Workforce Development Building (AHWD
Closed Circuit Cooling Tower, A-B Tech Asheville Campus
The cooling tower for the AHWD building (the largest and newest building on campus) needs to be replaced. Several parts of the current cooling tower are made out of plastic. Dr. Gossett recommended that the cooling tower be replaced with a stainless steel system so that it will last 20 plus years.
Action Item
Chair Moore moved to move forward with repairs to the Closed Circuit Cooling Tower. Mr. Whitesides seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Adjourn
At 9:27 a.m., Chair Moore moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Lewis seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Rice
Recording Secretary