Representatives from Alabama state government and Calhoun Community College hoisted gold-plated shovels Friday as they lifted red dirt into the air to mark the groundbreaking of the third and final phase of construction at the Robotics Technology Park.

State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said he felt the project was a move in the right direction for Alabama when it comes to keeping up with the high demand for high-tech manufacturing jobs.

“When I think about this project, I think about the vision and future of the Tennessee Valley,” he said.

Robotics Technology Park was a vision that started six years ago, when Bob Riley was still governor, Orr said, but couldn’t have reached its completion without Gov. Robert Bentley and the state Legislature investing in the state’s future.

“It’s all paying off now for the citizens of this area and the state,” he said. “The Robotics Technology Park prepares our future workers for this high-tech manufacturing and attracts companies to come to this area and locate in this area since we’ll have a cadre of workers that are prepared and well versed in the robotics technology.”

Dale Thomas, chairman of the RTP board of directors, said the mission of the park was to support businesses and create jobs by creating a talented workforce in an area attractive to manufacturers.

“That’s a vision I can get behind,” he said. “It’s been a long, arduous path to get here, but there’s an old Chinese proverb that goes ‘a long journey begins with the first step.’ The first step was taken six years ago. We’re here today to talk about the next step: Phase III.”

Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield was also in attendance. He said the physical aspects of Phase III, such as its size and cost, are a minimal consideration in relation to what it will mean to the state.

“If we put a dollar figure to it, it would be meaningless, because this investment is relatively a small investment, but it will continue to pay dividends for 20, 30, or 40 years, perhaps even beyond that,” he said. “States that make investments in their future are going to survive into the future and do better in the future.”

Canfield told The News Courier he sees Limestone County being a place of implementation of a state plan called Accelerate Alabama. This strategic plan is focused on creating advanced manufacturing jobs and bringing those industries to the state.