Reid State Technical College is preparing to open a new campus inside the Atmore City Limits with a little help from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Reid State, which currently uses space at the Atmore campus of Jefferson Davis Community College to train students in their nursing program, has entered into a lease with Creek Indian Enterprises that will allow them to utilize portions of the building located to the south of Brookwood Drive.

Reid State President Dr. Douglas M. Littles said he hopes the new location is only the beginning of a bright future for students in Atmore.

“Let me tell you how excited we are to be here today,” Littles said Tuesday morning at conference held in front of the new location. “I’m extremely honored to be entering into a partnership with Mr. Martin (CIE president) and PCI. We’ve been working to relocate our nursing program for some time and we believe we have found the perfect spot.”

Martin said he is also proud of the partnership, adding the move will also be great for the city of Atmore.

“As president of CIE, the economic development arm the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, we are invested in this community,” Martin said. “If you go and look at any great community across the United States you have what I would say is a three-legged stool. You’ve got to have a good education system foremost.  You’ve got to have a good health care system and you’ve got to have good, stable governance. We’re here today to talk about two of those things. Education and healthcare.”

Martin, speaking to a group of students, said he was proud to help offer them new ways to learn in the health care field.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to put you in what I believe will be a great facility that will maximize your ability to learn how to be a better health care provider,” Martin said. “If we can teach you to be a better healthcare provider it helps to build a better community for economic growth.”

Martin said the new facility is roughly 24,000 square feet and, while only a portion of the building will be occupied by Reid State at first, has the opportunity for growth. Littles said he too hopes the program will soon be big enough to inhabit the entire two-story structure.

“We are only using a portion of it at first, but we are hoping we will grown into the rest of the building, Littles said.

Prior to giving students in attendance a tour of the building, Martin said three large classrooms are under construction and four exam rooms built to look like hospital rooms will also be built.

“We’re going to try to give to you that practical experience you will encounter as you work in our hospitals,” Martin told the students.

Littles said he plans to have students beginning classes at the new location in January, mid-way through the 2012-13 school year.