Beaufort County Community College (Beaufort CCC), in partnership with the Town of Aurora, broke ground today on the Rev. Dr. Robert B. Cayton Regional Center and the new Aurora Industrial Park. The dual-purpose ceremony marked a significant milestone for regional workforce development and economic revitalization in southeastern Beaufort County.
Held at 319 S. 5th St. in Aurora, the event brought together community members, elected officials, and regional partners to celebrate the start of construction. Speakers included Aurora Mayor Clif Williams, Representative Keith Kidwell, Beaufort County Board of Commissioners Chairman Frankie Waters, Dr. David Loope, president of Beaufort CCC, Mr. Ted Lord, executive vice president of the Golden LEAF Foundation, and retired Major General Kurt Ryan, representing the Aurora community.
The Rev. Dr. Robert B. Cayton Regional Center will be a 5,000-square-foot facility designed to increase access to education and training. Funded by a $2.5 million State Capital and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) Directed Grant from the North Carolina General Assembly, the $3 million project will house GED and English Language Acquisition classes and serve as a training hub for Nutrien and its contractors. Completion is expected by April 2026.
“This groundbreaking is a special occasion for us because we are in the business of revitalizing all of Eastern North Carolina, all 2,100 square miles that we serve, in particular the places that need us the most,” said Dr. Dave Loope, president of Beaufort CCC.
Located near the Nutrien phosphate mine, the center will provide customized workforce training for the company and its contractor network while supporting adult education programs to improve educational attainment across the region.
The facility is named in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Robert B. Cayton, an Aurora native and longtime chair of the Beaufort CCC Board of Trustees, who served from 2018 until his passing in 2022. A.R. Chesson Construction will lead the project, with architectural design by JKF Architecture. It will be the college’s first building constructed on land not contiguous with its main campus.
“Rev. Cayton was one of the finest people I’ve ever known,” said Loope. “Born and raised here in Richmond Township, he spent his whole life in service to this township, Beaufort County, and Eastern North Carolina. He was on our board for 27 years, served as chairman on two different occasions. I think about him every day.”