Contractor selected for SCC Beatrice Ag Tech project

BEATRICE – A Nebraska community college is forging ahead with a new agriculture technical center.

The Southeast Community College Board has approved a construction bid for the new center, to be built at the Beatrice Campus of the college. Meeting at the Homestead National Historical Park, the SCC Board chose the bid of B-I-C Construction of Lincoln, for about $7.24 million.

"This ag center would house all of our ag programs. It would include lab space and all animal handling spaces, classroom spaces, as well. We already have some classroom space in the Ag Hall. This building is going to be near that structure."

College President Dr. Paul Illich says there are still plans to include an arena at some later stage of development. The project would have multiple funding sources, including private donations with the potential for partnerships and naming rights.

"So far, for our other projects over the last several years, I think we're approaching over $30 million that we've raised. We like to see these projects as partnerships with the local community. We have a capital improvement fund where we have a two-cent tax levy, so some of the funds can come from that. But, we also have a student fee...so the students participate in helping fund these projects...and then we have private giving. We try to have the funding come from all different types of sources, so everyone is involved."

For the past decade, SCC has focused on projects that seek to grow the skilled workforce in key areas, trying to match supply with demand for those workers.

"What we know we have to do, is figure out how to expand that capacity. So, that's what these buildings are about...we simply did not have the capacity. And, with Ag, I think we're going to see some growth in those programs...once we get that complete, with modern facilities. That will make sure the training...students are being trained with equipment that represent the current and maybe future standards within the ag industry. This absolutely will give us opportunities to make sure we're meeting the needs of all of our employers and communities."

A groundbreaking is scheduled for the Ag Tech project on April 8th (11 a.m.), ….to be followed by a groundbreaking for a Construction Technology project on the Milford Campus, May 1st.(10 a.m.)

The school has also secured design services for a new Science Center, on the Lincoln Campus of SCC.