FEMA grant pursued by college

As work begins on SWCC’s skilled trade center, the college is preparing for a third project from the master facilities plan, this time focusing on a new athletic facility.

Vice President of Economic Development Wayne Pantini said as administration begin looking into financing the proposed indoor practice facility, they turned to the Southern Iowa Council of Governments to find grants.

“One of the top priority projects is the potential athletic facility that would help house about a 2,000 square feet weight lifting facility, as well as an additional 6,000 square feet practice space for a potential future wrestling program,” Pantini said. “[SICOG] came back with a hazard mitigation assistance program, and this is made possible by the Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program is a federal cost-share grant that helps pay for 75% of a project which helps communities protect against disasters. Since a tornado safe room is being included in the new athletic facility, this program can be used to help fund the engineering and design of the facility. Currently, the closest safe room for SWCC students is the Creston Community School buildings.

As the college applies for this grant, Pantini requested the board approve the use of up to $13,750 for the planning aspect of the project. If awarded the other 75% from FEMA, this would put the total project cost at $55,000.

“This is the very early stages of the grant application,” Pantini said. “I just want to forewarn you that we have been warned that this is a long process to go through, so it could be a year by the time everything goes through approval.”

The request was approved unanimously.

In other SWCC news...

The board approved the FY26-29 Strategic Plan, which was presented at the June meeting. The plan focuses on five key goals: students, staff, the campus, the community and continued dedication.

The nursing program is moving to a complete partnership with ATI, an online nursing education program that helps with test prep and simulated clinicals. The board approved $208,740 for this program, which includes 55 RN students and 85 PN students at $1,491 per student.

The hiring of Travis Schultz as a welding instructor was approved by the board. Schultz previously worked at Altec in Osceola and Scheer Steel in St. Charles.

A grand opening for the new ORBIT Center in Osceola will be held at 3:30 p.m., July 29. The $3.2 million project has been in the works since 2022, when the Clarke County Development Corporation applied for a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant, receiving $2 million toward the project.