Ozarks Tech cuts ribbon on $13M aviation maintenance center 

After breaking ground in fall 2023, Ozarks Technical Community College publicly debuted its multimillion-dollar aviation maintenance and training center June 11 at the former Springfield-Branson National Airport terminal. 

With city and Greene County officials among those in attendance, the college held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its $13.2 million Roy Blunt Aviation Training Center at 4960 W. Kearney St. It will serve Ozarks Tech’s airframe and powerplant program set to debut this fall. The two-story, 29,065-square-foot building is next door to the 5000 W. Kearney St. pilot training facility, at which the school in 2017 started its aviation program in partnership with Premier Flight Center LLC.  

Killian Construction Co. was general contractor for the aviation maintenance facility designed by project architect nForm Architecture LLC and landscape architect frankZdesign LLC, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.  

Paula Adams, Ozarks Tech board chair, said at the ceremony the center, named in honor of former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, is an asset not only for the college but the entire region. Blunt helped secure federal funding for the project.  

“This facility represents what’s possible when vision, collaboration and community come together,” Adams said. “We’re deeply thankful to our partners at the federal, state and local levels who helped us make this project possible. Your support will impact lives for generations.” 

Project funding came from several sources, including $5 million from the state of Missouri using American Rescue Plan Act funds, $3 million from a U.S. Department of Labor grant and $750,000 apiece from the city of Springfield and Greene County. The remaining $3.7 million was from Ozarks Tech general funds, according to past reporting.  

“This center is more than a building. It’s a launchpad for opportunity, innovation and the bright future that will take flight right here,” Adams said. 

Ozarks Tech announced in May that its airframe and powerplant program had started taking applications for the first cohort to launch this fall. The Federal Aviation Administration has given the college approval to offer an associate of applied science degree in aviation airframe and powerplant technology. The program will also prepare students for the FAA written, oral and practical examinations for certifications as airframe and powerplant technicians.  

College officials said the first cohort for the program will be no larger than 24 students and is limited due to FAA regulations, according to past reporting. 

“We just started admitting students for the program and it’s already halfway full,” said Amy Bacon, chief of staff to the chancellor and executive director of the OTC Foundation. “We’ve still got the rest of the summer to go.” 

An expanded version of this article is scheduled to be published in Springfield Business Journal’s June 16 print edition.