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Where the money will go

Bond issue money would be used on several major projects

By Bill Shea 2 min read

Money from the proposed $29.5 million bond issue for Iowa Central Community College would be spent on eight major initiatives. Here is a summary of them.

• Student services center -- $9 million

This would be a new building on the Fort Dodge campus to house all the various offices that help students who are struggling with their college work or need help figuring out their career path. Those offices are now in multiple places around the campus.

The new 44,000-square-foot building would be on the west side of the pond on the campus.

• Career academies -- $5 million

Career academies allow the college to partner with local high schools and communities to offer technical and general education courses.

The college already has one career academy in Eagle Grove. College leaders plan to use the $5 million to establish two more academies.

The exact locations for the proposed new academies haven't been determined, but Albert City, Laurens and Lohrville have all been mentioned as possible sites.

• General updates -- $5 million

This $5 million would be spent on various building upgrades at the Fort Dodge, Webster City, Storm Lake and Eagle Grove campuses.

• Decker Auditorium -- $4 million

Decker Auditorium, built in 1978, would be remodeled.

"We're starting to run into electrical problems and sound problems," college President Dan Kinney said. "It is one of the larger venues in the region and hosts over 100 events each year."

• Safety and security upgrades -- $3 million

The money would be used to upgrade camera systems, lights and door locks. Outdated electrical systems would also be replaced.

"We have a very safe campus, but we can't rest on that," Kinney said.

• More classroom space -- $1.5 million

The money would enable the college to create 10 new classrooms.

• Reserve fund -- $1.5 million

This money would be set aside to fully implement the college's capital investment plan in the future.

• Elevator -- $500,000

A new elevator would be installed at the college's Webster City center.

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