LUMBERTON — For Robeson Community College officials, cutting the ribbon to the new Workforce Development Center on Monday was like unwrapping an early Christmas gift.

“This is a great source of pride for Robeson County,” said U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, who cut the ribbon with RCC President Charles Chrestman and the college board of trustees. “Today is a statement that we care about our present and our future. This is tangible evidence that we care.”

The $3.75 million Workforce Development Center has been under construction since the summer of 2008. The brick building, located on the main campus, was constructed on a sturdy steel frame and can be seen clearly from Interstate 95.

The 19,800-square-foot building has a grand lobby capped with a glass dome, a conference center that can accommodate 150 people, classrooms which can hold up to 24 people each, and more than a dozen offices. A catering kitchen is also included in the building.

The complex will house the college’s BioAg Center, customized industrial training, Small Business Development Center, human resource development classes, Occupational Extension/Community Services, and the office of the vice president for Adult and Continuing Education.

“Hope, opportunity, and jobs — that’s what this building is about,” Chrestman said.

David Weinstein, the former state senator who helped the school gain funding for this project, described the new building as “the jewel in a crown” and praised Chrestman.

“Without his hard work and vision, this building would have not happened,” Weinstein said.

Chrestman said that since he joined the college in 2003, three buildings have been constructed: The Allied Health Building, the COMtech Building in Pembroke, and the Workforce Development Center.

After Weinstein made his remarks, Chrestman informed him that the grand lobby of the building will be named after him for his assistance in getting an estimated $1.65 million from the state for this project.

“The state came through and realized the need for a workforce center in Robeson County,” Weinstein said. “If you don’t have an educated workforce, you are not going to get the jobs.”

The center is spotted with logos from companies that have donated money to the project. According to Chrestman, 17 out of 20 rooms have been named in honor of donors. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, several people approached Chrestman expressing interest in donating money and providing a name for the three remaining rooms.

“I think it’s a testimony for what they saw and that they like the vision that this building holds,” Chrestman said.

One of the rooms is named in honor of Campbell Soup. Mark Cacciatore, senior director of operations at Campbell Soup’s Maxton facility, spoke during the ceremony.

“I wholeheartedly believe that a workforce center is a key to workforce development,” Cacciatore said. “We have found a friend in RCC and I hope this building creates workers for Campbell Soup in the future.”

Chrestman said that classes will begin in the building in the spring semester of 2010.