A valued partner and, I believe, a very important cog in the city’s wheel as it moves toward viability and sustainability, is our own Northeast Iowa Community College, perhaps more well-known as NICC.

The ability to train and re-train our workforce for 21st-century jobs is absolutely paramount to ensuring a vibrant economy long-term.  Business retention and expansion, as well as new business recruitment all depend on a skilled and educated workforce.  And, the ebb and flow of our economy continues to remind us of the crucial need for college business and industry training programs.

NICC recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and is approaching the juncture where several buildings need to become ADA-compliant, and where original mechanical and air handling systems need to be replaced, along with doors, roofs, flooring and windows.  With nearly half of the funding coming from student tuition and fees, there is a limit on the college’s ability to finance significant maintenance, repairs and technology upgrades.

NICC is proposing … for the first time in its 40-year existence … a capital bond levy that is a one-time, limited-time, source of funding for projects of this magnitude. Most, if not all, of the other community colleges in the state are on their second or third levy.  The ballot measure would generate $35 million over the next ten years and the projects would be completed in three phases.  Taxpayers would be committing to 42 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation over ten years.

Consider this:
NICC has grown from 158 to over 4800 credit students.
NICC now has over 35,000 non-credit or continuing education students every year, helping to address the ongoing re-training needs of displaced workers and skilled trades needed for industries such as John Deere Dubuque Works.
NICC has brought over $33 million ($5.2 million last year alone) into the region for workforce development.
NICC has partnered with area businesses, including its very visible presence in the Town Clock Plaza, to provide workforce training for over 1,000 new and existing jobs in the past year, and
Approximately 87 percent of NICC students stay in Iowa to live, work and pay taxes!

On January 16th, the Dubuque City Council received, endorsed and unanimously approved a Resolution in support of NICC’s ballot measure titled “Ensuring the Future for Students and Communities.”  To pass, this measure will require 60% +1 in favor.  

Upon a personal visit to NICC, I was able to observe that all possible existing teaching and training space has been exhausted, and labs, programming and technology are in need of upgrading to help graduates meet the demands of tomorrow’s workplace.  At the same time, business, industry, and healthcare are calling on NICC to expand programming.

With support and passage of the bond issue on February 20, in Peosta alone, Phase I will include a new Industrial Technologies Building; Phase II will include a renovation of the Health and Sciences as well as library renovation and expansion, merged with Dubuque County; and Phase III, across the centers and campuses, will address technology upgrades and Instructional Facilities and Equipment.  

As we consider our vote for a limited period tax investment that is less than 2 percent of our total taxes, we do so in light of the community’s economic goals to retain and recruit business and industry, and to keep our city’s progressive vision on track.  With our vote, we will be determining shared responsibility for a respected partner on behalf of the community we call, and want others to call, home.  On February 20, we each have the opportunity to “Ensure the Future.”