Allen Community College will spend up to $12 million to build a new Career and Technology Education (CTE) facility and maintenance shop.
The goal is to attract more students by offering in-demand career training programs. President Bruce Moses and his cadre of deans and vice presidents recommended the investment in CTE to combat declining enrollment.
The project will build a 25,000-square-foot facility with space for both manufacturing and traditional classrooms with laboratories. Part of the building could be used as a community event space.
The project won’t directly address housing, which remains a top concern. Trustees called it a Catch-22: In order to attract students, you need quality housing. But to fill housing, you need to attract students. Negotiations fell through for a separate proposal that would have leased apartments being developed at the former Arkhaven nursing home.
The other big concern is financing. Allen has more than $30 million in investments and cash reserves, Tonya Johnson, vice president for finance and operations, reported. About $5 million is restricted.
Trustees asked how much the college should keep in reserve. Moses said a general guideline is about a year’s worth of operating expenses, which for Allen this year is about $14 million.
Board member Corey Schinstock noted Allen is in a favorable financial position, especially compared to other community colleges across the state, because of years of savings and fiscal management. But while Allen was saving, other colleges were investing in facilities and programs.
“We’ve got to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Are we really doing that by keeping so much in reserves and not spending those dollars to improve the campus and get where we need to go?” he asked.
He and other trustees also want to capitalize on potential grant funding available for building projects and CTE programs. Trustee Jessica Thompson works as deputy director at Thrive Allen County, where she oversees grants and fundraising, talked about grant opportunities the college might qualify for.
Moses said he supports the pursuit of grants but is concerned about the timeline. He did not want to set back the project while waiting for grant results.
“We are always happy to do that but time is of the essence. We have to get shovels in the ground to move in this trajectory,” he said.
Thompson assured him some grants will cover projects that have already started.
Scott Gales of Architect One, Inc. of Topeka added that Allen should be in a favorable position because it has enough money to cover any matching funds. Also, colleges that embark on these types of projects generally attract a benefactor — a business or industry, an alumnus or community patron — to donate a significant amount and receive naming rights for the building, he said.
“I’ve yet to work with a client who didn’t find a naming opportunity. On something like this, people come out of the woodwork to be part of what you’re doing,” he said.
Gales, who presented preliminary drawings and cost estimates in December, said his estimates were intentionally high and the design is flexible enough to account for unforeseen expenses and inflation. Much of the instability in the construction industry since the pandemic has stabilized, he assured the board. He expects the final cost to be lower.
