Inside a 4,400-square-foot building in downtown Pryor, reconfigured floor plans and demolished walls have given way to Northeast Tech’s newest centralized vision for workforce development and business, the Workforce Training Hub.
“This location shows our continued commitment to meeting the needs of our staff, our business partners and our communities,” said Derek Beller, NT superintendent. “It provides more office space for employees, creates new space for training and supports client recruitment. I am really proud and grateful to our Facilities team, as well as GH2 Architects and Ellingson Contracting for completing the project so smoothly.”
“The Hub” as it has been affectionately dubbed by NT staff, features 10 offices and will house members of both NT Facilities and the Business and Industry Services Business Development teams.
“We are excited to have another location in town, outside of the industrial park. It’s a huge asset in terms of allowing business owners and entrepreneurs in the community easier access to our team and services,” said Troy Steidley, BIS director. “Working at the main BIS office, it’s a great location for safety and leadership training for businesses in the park, but we were really missing the small-business element.”
Previously the NT Business Development team was in one large office, but will now separate offices to offer services including business development, technology training, organizational leadership and development, and agriculture business management.
As part of the remodel, the team will also have access to a six-seat meeting room, a 10-seat computer lab and a 24-seat training room.
“It’s really an opportunity to innovate and try new things,” Steidley said. “They’re having conversations about what they haven’t done before, and there’s already a lot of excitement from the Pryor community. We envision lunch-and-learns, training opportunities at all times of day and allowing outside groups to use the space for training so we can build those relationships.”
Northeast Tech purchased the building from Pryor Printing in December 2024. Renovations began in June 2025, with GH2 Architects and Ellingson Contracting hired for the project.
Tasked with coordinating the renovations was NT Director of Facilities Jimmy Sanders.
“We had a goal of about eight months for the construction process,” Sanders said. “We gutted the building and brought it back to its shell, which gave us a clean slate to design a space that meets the needs of the district. We also made improvements to the front of the building with new paint and signage. It looks sharp.”
The Hub will also provide dedicated space for Sanders and his team, including Deputy Director of Facilities Carey Backward and Administration Office Specialist Brenda Moorhead.
“We’re looking forward to having dedicated space for meetings,” Sanders said. “With so many construction projects in recent years, we were always searching for room to discuss updates and challenges. At times, you feel like you’re part of the problem in a district that’s bursting at the seams. It’s rewarding to now be part of the solution.”
Final touches on the project were completed in January 2026.
“This project has been such a success because of everyone involved,” Sanders said. “It’s never just one person — it’s the whole team, including the school board, that makes it possible. I’m excited to open the doors and share this space with the district.”