First Community Bank Makes Lead Gift From Keokuk Area to SCC Building the Dream Capital Campaign

09/04/2015

Southeastern Community College’s Building the Dream capital campaign has received another generous gift. First Community Bank (FCB) in Keokuk has pledged $25,000 toward  SCC’s Industrial Technologies Training Facility.                                          

Including FCB’s gift, the College has secured funding pledges of over $7.5 million of the campaign’s $12 million goal.

SCC President Dr. Michael Ash says that Jim Hankes, President of FCB and long-time advocate for SCC, was instrumental in securing the pledge. As a member of SCC’s Foundation Board of Directors, Hankes has worked hard to move the Building the Dream campaign forward.

“Jim stressed with his colleagues at FCB the importance of our plan and how it will impact everyone in the region. We’re grateful for his personal commitment, leadership and generosity.”         

The Building the Dream capital campaign will fund SCC’s latest construction initiative. It includes the new Health Professions Center and the Hall of Sciences on the West Burlington campus, and the Industrial Technologies Training Center on the Keokuk campus. With an estimated total project cost of $27 million, it is the largest, most comprehensive infrastructure investment undertaken by SCC since 1995.

SCC’s Industrial Technologies Training Center will feature a 19,000 square foot training lab with ample space for the state-of-the-art training equipment the program currently offers.  The Industrial Maintenance Technology program prepares grads for great careers with a bright future, and its short-term training programs provide credentials individuals can use to find good entry-level jobs now”

Hankes says through his volunteer work in economic development, community success almost always comes down to its ability to provide the right kind of employers.

“We know that businesses and manufacturers need skilled workers, and SCC’s plan focuses on education and training that meet the needs of our residents and businesses. The facility they’re building in Keokuk is exactly what we need. It’s important we support this project.”

Campaign chair Michael Shinn is thrilled to see Keokuk residents get behind the project, “As one of our early supporters, Jim continues to play a key role in the campaign. Others are showing keen interest in the project, too, and we credit Jim and FCB with helping make that happen.”

 For information about the Building the Dream campaign, contact campaign Becky Rump at (319) 208-5065 or brump@scciowa.edu.

 For campaign updates, project details and videos of our progress, visit www.scciowa.edu/buildingthedream.

 For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit: https://www.scciowa.edu/rss/news/index.html