New education center to expand career training in metro-east town. Here’s what to know
Southwestern Illinois College is adding on to its Red Bud campus to expand its career and technical education programs.
The college is constructing a 7,800-square-foot, $5.5 million stand-alone building directly west of the existing campus facilities. There are also plans to expand the current parking lot and create walkways that will connect the new building to the rest of the campus.
“The location of the future academy on campus grounds is strategically placed with building and programming additions in mind for the future,” a press release says.
At the building, SWIC plans to expand its existing programs for nursing, welding, plumbing and construction management, according to the release.
The college anticipates opening the doors of the new building to students in the fall semester of 2026.
The expanded programs at the Red Bud Campus will help SWIC “significantly enhance educational opportunities” and “meet the growing demand for career-focused education in the region,” the release says.
The board of trustees has approved contracts with Farnsworth Group for architectural services and Holland Construction Services for preconstruction work.
SWIC is paying for the construction with proceeds from bonds it sold in December 2023. According to the official statement submitted to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, SWIC issued about $18.4 million in bonds for its working cash fund at that time.
Like public school districts in Illinois, community colleges can establish a working cash fund to have sufficient money at all times to pay for ordinary and necessary expenditures.
Proceeds of the bonds are going toward the construction of the new manufacturing training academy at SWIC’s Belleville campus, which is now open for its first semester, the forthcoming addition to the Red Bud campus and other projects, according to the official statement.
In July, SWIC held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new Belleville academy, which will provide students with more training opportunities in the growing manufacturing sector.
“SWIC and other community colleges are the dynamic institutions that are capable of building the workforce of the future, creating opportunities for hardworking Illinoisans and maximizing economic growth potential for the entire state, and particularly for this region,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at the event.
This story was originally published August 20, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
