A year after start, MPCC sets ribbon cutting, open house

    The public will have its first look at the renovated Mid-Plains Community College Imperial campus on July 21.
     An open house is planned for 4 p.m. , followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. and MPCC Board of Governors meeting at 6 p.m.
    Work to renovate and expand the campus began about a year ago after it was determined more space was needed to meet area demands.
     A steady increase in full-time enrollment, as well as additional partnerships with local businesses and industries, resulted in a need to accommodate enhanced workforce training, state-of-the-art mobile equipment and advancements in distance learning technology, according to MPCC officials.
     In July 2020, ground broke on the 2,500-square-foot addition on the north end of the existing building. The addition has two classrooms, a multi-purpose community room, an office that doubles as a storm shelter, restrooms, a mechanical room and storage room.
     In January, classes were moved into the new space so they could continue uninterrupted as the second phase started.
     The second phase of the expansion project began a month later. Crews remodeled the south end of the facility – overhauling the distance learning classroom, creating a testing room, adding a simulation lab to the health sciences classroom, updating the building entryway and implementing new furniture and equipment throughout.
     The newly renovated Imperial campus will be better set up to meet the needs of students, businesses and industries in the southwest corner of its service area.
At current site since 2008
     Since the campus opened at its current location in 2008, it has provided the Chase County region with both traditional and non-traditional classes, business and targeted industry trainings and other courses.
     The expansion will provide more opportunities for additional enrollment in nursing, CPR and Emergency Medical Services, officials say. Not only will there be increased class space for general education/transfer courses, but the multi-purpose room can also be used for on-site, applied technology courses and new hands-on learning opportunities.
     Those opportunities could include everything from meetings and business trainings to children’s classes and community education workshops.
     The expansion was possible in part to the support of generous donors.
    In addition to MPCC’s contribution toward the $925,000 cost, funding came from the City of Imperial, the Chase County Board of Commissioners, donations from several local businesses and organizations and the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation of Omaha.
     Wayne Dowhower Construction, Inc., of North Platte was the project’s general contractor.