TVCC marks new Caldwell Center with ceremony
Celebration held Wednesday for new, 16-room facility
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:48 AM PDT
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| Treasure Valley Community College President Jim Sorensen speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new TVCC Caldwell Center at Caldwell Wednesday afternoon. Others on the stage include (from left) Garret Nancolas, Caldwell mayor; ElJay Waite, chairman of the Caldwell East Urban Renewal District; Jim Thomssen, Caldwell/Canyon County Economic Development Council; David Ferdinand, chairman of the Canyon County Commissioners; Roy Valdez, deputy director, Idaho Department of Labor; Clete Edmunson, governor’s office; and Bruce Schutz, director of the TVCC Caldwell Center. |
CALDWELL — Treasure Valley Community College was welcomed to Caldwell with open arms Wednesday as a large group of college, city and county leaders, along with people from the business community, gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new TVCC Caldwell Center.
Construction on the new facility will start this fall, and the building should be ready for classes by the fall of 2009.
Dignitaries in the crowd included Idaho state lawmakers, Clete Edmunson representing Gov. Butch Otter, Roy Valdez, deputy director of the Idaho Department of Labor, and Dr. Robert Hoover, president of the College of Idaho.
With 16 rooms promised in the new two-story center, TVCC can expand, accept more students and provide more programs when it moves from its current location just off of the Caldwell-Nampa Boulevard midway between the two cities.
With about 600 students expected this fall, the center will be bursting at the seams, according to TVCC Public Affairs Representative Abby Lee.
“We don’t know where we are going to put them all,” Lee said.
TVCC president Jim Sorensen agreed.
“We’ve simply outgrown the space we have and are excited about moving into a new classroom building next fall,” Sorensen said.
The new location will be in the Sky Ranch Business Center, situated south of U.S. Highway 20-26, east of Exit 29 on Interstate 84.
“I am overwhelmed by the amount of support Caldwell has shown for Treasure Valley Community College,” Sorensen told the crowd, which overflowed the tent set up for the ceremony.
Working his way through the history of the center, Sorensen talked about Sam Byrd, who in 2002 asked for help in providing educational programs to clients of the Idaho Migrant Council, and Joyce Davis, TVCC education faculty member, who searched for a way to help mothers in her classes to be closer to home and work responsibilities. In response TVCC began holding classes within a year at the El Meccado Center, where it continues to operate, and in other locations, including the Caldwell YMCA and at local high schools.
“While our roots are in Oregon, those of us on the far western side of the Treasure Valley, know that the state-line is more of a pathway than barrier,” Sorensen said. “Our students from neighboring Payette, Washington, Adams, Valley, Gem and Canyon counties don’t consider themselves to be ‘out-of-state students.’ Instead they see Treasure Valley Community College as their college.
“When asked why we are serving students in Caldwell, I respond, ‘We can’t afford not to service these students.’ ”
Sorensen and Caldwell Mayor Garret Nancolas both stressed the Caldwell Center will not cost the taxpayers any extra money.
“We have to be little more innovative in finding funding support because there will be no funding from the state of Oregon for students we serve in Idaho, but the need is here, and we believe we have the offerings and the service,” Sorensen said.
Nancolas said while there may be some public funds used up front as an investment in the project, that money will be repaid, and ultimately no new property taxes will be raised and no existing tax rate will be increased. “It’s not taking any property tax dollars. This is a model for partnerships,” Nancolas said.
“It takes a community to rally around these things.”
Asked why Caldwell leaders chose to support TVCC rather than waiting for an Idaho College, Nancolas said, “TVCC is already established. They have proven their value.”
Nancolas said the decision was easy after working with the leadership at TVCC. “Bruce Shultz (center director) is the most forward thing and constructive people I have ever worked with. It was an easy decision.”
“We will provide an educational opportunity,” Nancolas said. “People need continuing education.”
David Ferdinand, chairman of the Canyon County Commissioners, noting the process to establish the College of Western Idaho in Nampa, said before the TVCC Caldwell Center people had travel to Ontario, Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene. “Now, the two largest cities in Canyon County both have community colleges, and that added availability of class offerings will benefit us all,” he said.
Butch Gilliland of Norfleet Development will build the Caldwell Center on Sky Ranch property owned by the Caldwell East Urban Renewal Agency and lease it until the renewal district has enough money to buy the building, at which time district will be the landlord. TVCC’s lease payments will be covered by the city of Caldwell for five years, at which time it is expected tuition and fees will cover the lease payments.
