Waukesha County Technical College announced on Friday that it plans to continue fundraising while moving ahead with plans to build a $4.5 million Integrated Manufacturing Center. To date, the WCTC Foundation has raised nearly $1.4 million toward the project, but it needs to raise $2 million to take advantage of an anonymous donor’s $1 million pledge.
“Time and time again we have heard from manufacturers that the $4.5 million training center would be the best option to produce the skilled employees they need, and we remain committed to making this happen for them,” said Mike Shiels, dean of the WCTC School of Applied Technologies. “We have received overwhelming support from employers and are grateful for their contributions. We are actively working with several more employers on gift commitments.”
WCTC administration and WCTC Foundation representatives provided an IMC campaign update to the WCTC District Board last week, during which time they presented several options to continue with the project, including a recommendation for a two-phase, design-build process. The board was in consensus that the $4.5 million building would best meet the needs of employers and the community.
“The WCTC District Board wholeheartedly supports this project as we feel it is in the best interest of our students, employers and the economic vitality of our community,” said WCTC District Board chair Pauline Jaske. “We have encouraged college staff to move forward with plans for the $4.5 million building as the WCTC Foundation continues to reach out to area manufacturers for financial support.”
With hopes of securing the additional funds needed by January– and to keep the college’s overall master facilities plan on target—WCTC will now move forward with the project’s architectural and engineering firms to plan for a two-phase design build-out by floor (ground floor and second floor) with plans to break ground in April. If the funds are not raised by January, the project could be delayed to break ground in fall 2015.
WCTC announced in late August a $1 million pledge from an anonymous donor toward the WCTC Foundation’s fundraising campaign for the IMC. The pledge was made with the caveat that the college secures an additional $2 million in private funds for the project, which, if realized to its full build-out, will cost about $4.5 million.
The proposed 24,000-square-foot center will be connected to the college’s existing industrial building and will be home to several programs within the School of Applied Technologies. The college plans to spend $1.5 million on the project in accordance with the state’s limit on capital project spending. WCTC has been working closely with the Waukesha County Business Alliance and the group’s Manufacturing Executive Council on the IMC capital campaign.
