Iowa Central Celebrates Opening of New Storm Lake Learning Center

Public Information Office
9/26/2024

Applause filled the air from a large crowd gathered outside of Iowa Central Community College’s new Storm Lake Learning Center as a ribbon was cut to celebrate the grand opening of the center. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds thanked Iowa Central President Dr. Jesse Ulrich for his vision and commitment to creating educational opportunities for rural Iowans. “It is hard to overstate how valuable that is for rural areas just like this one where continued economic development depends on really being able to provide a well-trained workforce in a variety of industries,” said Governor Reynolds.

Following the ribbon cutting, Dr. Ulrich welcomed everyone in the building for tours and refreshments. The new center will provide learning opportunities for students during the day and the evening. New programs that are now available include advanced manufacturing, business, computer science/programming, electrical technologies, industrial mechanics, liberal arts, and health science programs such as nursing and the teacher academy. “Our new center will be full of students who are earning college credit for high-demand and high-paying jobs in this region,” said Dr. Ulrich. Additionally, the space will serve as a career academy for five northwest Iowa school districts and provide Community Education and English Language Learners courses at night. Local companies will also be able to use the center to train employees.

“Iowa Central truly is living up to its rule as a community college dedicated to providing great educational opportunities to Iowans,” noted Governor Reynolds. Dr. Ulrich shared that Iowa Central is now positioned to better serve the Storm Lake region. “Our vision to bring all of our services in Storm Lake onto one campus started three years ago with the completion of our industrial training center. Our teams were located in four different buildings. With the new Storm Lake learning center, we are able to better serve students, use our resources more efficiently and create a better experience for our students.”

In addition to modern classrooms, learning labs provide students with hands-on training. “Students in our nursing program will train in our simulation center which features mannequins with artificial intelligence and is equipped with a life-size digital, interactive 3D human body, known as an anatomage table, “ pointed out Dr. Ulrich

“Iowa Central is committed to offering excellent education opportunities for students in this region. The new center is another substantial contribution to that commitment,” said Dr. Ulrich. The new two-story building has 16 classrooms, an Academic Resource Center, and a testing center as well.

Construction for the $10 million center started in the Spring of 2023 and is partially funded by a $2.3  million loan from the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. It is also supported by the Department of Education with a $1 million grant, $700,000 from the US Economic Development Administration and the bond referendum passed in 2018 by voters. “It really requires strong partnerships between local, regional, state, and federal stakeholders and that is exactly what we see in this case,” commented Governor Reynolds.

“Our new learning center represents the potential for a better life for our students for future generations here and the Storm Lake region,” said Dr. Ulrich. To learn more about Iowa Central Community College, visit www.iowacentral.edu