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 New master plan in action, Repaving of campus roads first phase

    By Lori L. Nimke
    IV Leader Staff

    A new master plan for Illinois Valley Community College has taken effect. The comprehensive plan for the college's future includes repaving roads which is expected to begin this Spring.
    The master plan is updated approximately every five years and has several stages. With the previous plan completed, the college is moving forward with the newest plan.
    Jerry Corcoran, vice president of business services and finance said, "The roads are the first impression one has on entering the college, we have patched for a number of years and now it is necessary to repave."
    Local monies will fund the project at an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. While the parking lots will not be effected, all the roadways on campus will be repaved, eliminating pesky pot hole problems.
    The repaving of the East campus parking will also take place. Along with the repaving will come a paved skill path for the truck driving school and a much needed building which will include classrooms and restrooms for their students and instructors.
    The East Campus project is estimated at $1 million. The financing will be done through the Capital Renewal Funds, government funds which can be used to improve on existing structures, which will provide $800,000. That leaves local funds at $200,000.
    As soon as the state releases the funds, this will be a priority, though there is no start date for this project.
    Corcoran noted that at this point in time it can be a challenge in patience, keeping a positive outlook toward the future and "balancing what needs to be done now."  Corcoran also recently gave the okay for purchasing gravel to be placed in the truck driver's skill path area due to the extremely soft drive caused by use and the rather mild January.
    In order to receive state funding for such projects as listed above, IVCC had to take part in an approval process by the state and then was placed on a ranked list for funding. IVCC has been approved along with 54 other community colleges. The college is currently ranked 11, and due to the state budget has been in this position for a couple of years.
    At a future date the college will be closer to the No. 1 position and to receiving state funding for the remainder of the projects in the master plan. At that time, the state will pay 75 percent of the total costs and the local costs will be at 25 percent.
Master plan projects dependent on state funding include the building of a Technology and Work Force Development Center and a Community Instruction Center.
    The Technology and Work Force Development Center building will include such departments as Horticulture, Welding, Massage Therapy and Agriculture, just to name a few. The Technology and Work Force Development Center will focus on students in more hands-on programs and those wanting to quickly train and seek employment.
    Estimated at a cost of $17 million, the building will measure approximately 66,000 square feet. This will be located closer to the main campus than many of these programs’ current location on the East Campus. This future development was approved in 2001 but not yet funded.
    The last item in the master plan is the building of a Community Instruction Center with a cost projection of $27 million and a building at approximately 104,000 square feet. It will house Admission and Records, Enrollment, Financial Aid, the Bookstore, Continuing Education, Small Business and Development, the Assessment Center and other areas as well. The Community Instruction Center will be a hub of informational services, making it easier to utilize and more productive for all students, Corcoran said.
 

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