Bizzarro welcomes Erie Co. Community College to Millcreek Twp.

EC3PA expands to former Villa Maria campus

ERIE, June 30 – Following the move to utilize a valuable regional asset to benefit the education of tomorrow’s leaders, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro announced his support for Erie County Community College to use the former Villa Maria Academy Campus in Millcreek Township. 

“Villa Maria Academy has been a vital asset in our community for 130 years,” Bizzarro said. “Like many members of the community, I was hopeful this facility would continue to serve the educational needs of Erie students. So I’m pleased to see Erie County Community College stepping forward to take advantage of a centrally located facility that is conveniently located for all Erie County residents.”  

Villa Maria celebrated its final graduating class earlier this month. Students at the all-girls parochial school will consolidate with the formerly all-boys Cathedral Preparatory School in the fall.   

In recent weeks, the 17-member Cathedral Prep board of directors evaluated the future of Villa Maria’s West Eighth Street campus, and members raised their concerns for the campus to continue being used for education.  

“Although repurposed, this campus will continue to develop the next generation of leaders here in Erie and around the region,” Bizzarro said. “This location falls in line with former Erie County Councilman Carl Anderson’s resolution, where no property would be taken off the tax rolls. This is another win for taxpayers and the community.”  

Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania enrolled students for its inaugural class in July 2021 and added new programs for the fall 2022 semester. EC3PA offers associate’s degree and technical skills certificate programs. Besides the new Millcreek location, EC3PA services are available online and in person on the lower-east side (St. Benedict Education Center), southern portion of the city (Erie County Technical School Skills Center) and near Presque Isle (Regional Science Consortium at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center), and in Corry (Corry Higher-Education Council Building).