College of the Canyons has done some expanding over the years, but their latest step will push them and their abilities to serve the community into the 21 century.

The Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center recently celebrated it’s grand opening, and on Thursday morning the Chancellors Business Council welcomed local business leaders to the 21^st Century Business Symposium.

Guests were treated to a presentation by Jay Thomas, Chair of the Chancellors Business Council, and a complete tour of the facility.

The college, through its Economic Development Division, has built a center where business growth and prosperity are its goals.

“We’re trying to use the University Center for higher education, as well as economic development to help business,” said Dena Maloney, Vice President of Economic Development for the college.

The 110,000 square foot University Center is the permanent home for the Academy of the Canyons, but also houses the Small Business Development Center, the Employee Training Institute, the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies, and the Advanced Technology Incubator.

According to the Economic Development Division website, the four departments offer a comprehensive network of services, tools and resources to support any stage of business development.

A business could utilize the services offered by the SBDC and meet with a professional business advisor to talk about a host of business issues.  That same business could then use the ETI to provide employees with specialized training that will help them advance in their profession.

The college is also helping business make the most of new technologies with the CACT and i3 Advanced Technologies Incubator.

The University Center features an 80 seat conference room, five additional conference rooms, a teleconference setup, and what COC Chancellor Dianne Van Hook calls the largest board room in the Santa Clarita Valley.

In addition to housing a high school and the departments for bettering businesses, the University Center also helps students further their education by giving them access to bachelors, masters and doctorial degrees.

“If a student gets turned away at Cal State Northridge or Cal State L.A. because their quotas are impacted, they can apply through the universities here and get in,” said Hook.

The center offers 30 degree and credential programs with hopes of moving that number to 60.

For more information on the University Center and the Economic Development Division click here.