JWCC Trustees Approve the Workforce Development Expansion Project Construction Bid and Balanced Budget for Fiscal Year 2023
John Wood Community College Board of Trustees accepted a $6,650,000 bid from Maas Construction for the Workforce Development Expansion (WDC) project and approved a $16,412,835 balanced budget for the next fiscal year during its regular meeting Wednesday, July 20.
The WDC expansion project is assisted with a federal grant titled: “EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance Program Grant”. The grant was awarded to JWCC in June of 2021. The total project estimate is supported by the $3.033M federal grant. Klingner & Associates/BLDD is the contracted firm. The groundbreaking ceremony will be later this summer with construction to follow. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2023.
The expansion will add 14,170-square-feet to JWCC’s WDC facility located at 4220 Kochs Lane in Quincy, including a new Truck Driver Training addition, expansion of the east side with a new physical building entrance, expanded space for HVAC, and business and industry training. A remodel of the current interior of the building will include expanded space for welding, industrial maintenance and manufacturing, robotics and automation, and flexible use-space for new programs such as a virtual reality lab. A new vehicle road entrance off 42nd Street will be added, leading to a larger parking area.
“We are excited to move forward with this important project,” JWCC President Michael Elbe shared. “With strategic focus and long-term planning, the College is set to offer excellent opportunities to provide programs and training facilities to support the workforce needs of the area. The WDC expansion project and the new JWCC Agricultural Sciences Complex (near Baylis with the official ribbon cutting ceremony on August 9) demonstrates John Wood’s continued commitment to the District and Tri-State region.”
The Board approved a $16,412,835 balanced budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The budget is $213,406 higher than the previous year. Tuition and fees account for 42.7 percent of JWCC’s total budgeted revenue, corporate and personal property taxes make up 38.9 percent, state funding 13.8% percent and 4.5 percent is from grants, facilities rentals and other sources.
“Our objective is always to be good stewards and fiscally responsible of the district’s tax dollars by using a conservative fiscal approach,” Elbe stated. JWCC’s average full-time, in-district tuition cost including fees is $5,440 for next year, which compares favorably with other public and private colleges in the region.
The Board heard a special report from Tracy Orne, JWCC dean of enrollment management and student services. For FY23 the College is investing more dollars in larger strategic recruitment initiatives, knowing enrollment is a key revenue source that will attract and retain students. For the upcoming year, there are more than a dozen enrollment initiatives, with many scholarships to attract students and adults into career and trade programs plus efforts to boost enrollment in JWCC health sciences and ag programs. Registration is open now for the fall semester with classes starting August 22.
In other business, the Board:
Accepted $4,000 in grant funds from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for Adult Education / GED Testing Fees.
Accepted $105,906.50 in grant funds from the Workforce Innovation Board of Western Illinois for Class-Sized Training Program.
Authorized submission of a $274,439 grant application to the Illinois Community College Board for Adult Education and Literacy.
Authorized submission of $127,773 in grant applications to the Illinois Green Economy Network for multiple IGEN projects.
Authorized submission of a $55,680 grant application to the Illinois Department on Aging for the Illinois Department on Aging Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
Adopted the FY2023 Strategic Master Plan.
Approved payment of $4,250 for the first installment of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association dues.
Approved the appointment to Josh Welker, JWCC dean of business services and institutional effectiveness as treasurer and JWCC director of fiscal services, John Reinhardt as assistant treasurer for the College.
Accepted a $102,400 bid from Million Construction Company for courtyard concrete improvements.
The next regular meeting of the JWCC Board of Trustees is August 17, at 6 p.m. at the JWCC Agricultural Education Center near Baylis.
