Rio Grande's New McArthur Center Brings Workforce Training to Vinton County

For students in Vinton County, pursuing a healthcare credential or a manufacturing certificate has long meant leaving. Construction underway at the Cherry Lane Retail Center in McArthur is built to change that.

Randy Evans Construction of Jackson began work on the new 22,000-square-foot University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College McArthur Center in early 2025, funded primarily by a $12 million Appalachian Community Grant that Governor Mike DeWine announced in May 2024 at the future building site. More than 100 local and state officials gathered that day to mark the award, part of a broader $13.2 million package Rio Grande received to expand its regional reach, which also covers a renovation of its Jackson Center in Jackson County.

The new building is not simply a classroom annex. Holzer Health System will operate a dedicated 1,100-square-foot clinic inside the facility, offering after-hours care and telemedicine services. The center will also house office space for Ohio Means Jobs and The Ohio State University's Vinton County Extension, consolidating workforce services that county residents have historically had to travel outside Vinton County to access.

"Education is the cornerstone of economic development," said Rebecca Long, Rio Grande's chief operating officer.

The new center will replace Rio's current McArthur location in the former Vinton County High School building. Positioned near Vinton County's only public high school, the Cherry Lane site is designed to ease the transition for local students considering higher education after graduation. A formal collaboration with Vinton County Local School District will create a direct pipeline into credential programs in healthcare and manufacturing, two fields with persistent workforce shortages across the region.

A private donor has further lowered the barrier to entry: all students attending the McArthur Center are eligible for tuition-free education, with institutional costs, books, and fees covered in full.

"This project represents a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting education and economic development in southern Ohio," said Ryan Smith, president of the University of Rio Grande. "By fostering partnerships and leveraging resources, we are creating a center that will empower individuals and strengthen our community."

Construction by Randy Evans was moving at a solid pace through mid-2025. When complete, the facility will put under one roof what Vinton County residents have had to piece together across multiple counties: a college classroom, a job center, and a doctor's office.