Muskegon-area leaders were consulted. Funding options were discussed. The community and economic impact was considered.

After a series of meetings this fall, a Muskegon Community College committee examining how the college should expand now has a recommendation for MCC’s board of trustees: be transformative.

The committee consisting of MCC officials and community leaders ranging from Muskegon County Administrator Bonnie Hammersley to Paul Billings, President of 103.7 The Beat is recommending that the college pursue all three, and not just one, of its proposed capital improvement projects: a science addition, a health education addition, and a creative and performing arts facility, possibly in downtown Muskegon.

MCC should go big, Judy Hayner, executive director of the Muskegon Museum of Art, said at one of the committees meetings. MCC has a compelling case for all three areas and the community might get excited about the fact the college is getting very dynamic and has a real vision.

Now, the board of trustees must strive to another difficult question: how to fund the projects.

We have a ways to go yet, said Donald Crandall, who chairs MCC’s board of trustees.

He said the board of trustees is expected to have a special meeting next month to discuss funding, whether the college should pursue all the projects or narrow its focus to one of them.

The board previously said all three projects were necessary, but building the science addition was its top priority.

The college estimates that all three projects, ranging in cost from $7.3 million to $9.2 million, would take between $25 and $35 million. Numerous funding options have been discussed, including fundraising, a millage request and obtaining bonds.

The MCC foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fundraising, indicated it wants to raise $7 million to help fund the projects.

To help achieve that, the foundation is asking the college to fund a study, costing between $15,000 and $25,000, to help determine what it will take for it to complete a successful fundraising campaign. The study would help formulate a marketing and public relations plan, study other successful fundraising campaigns, and implement a time-line with goals.

Trustee Dorothy Lester said its important that the trustees meet and decide whether the college should pursue all three projects or tackle them in phases.

I think we as the board need a clear understanding of where we need to go, she said.

Trustee Roy Portenga said its important to consider how the college would fund the projects and whether a millage is necessary. Discussion should also focus on whether the college should create a campus in downtown Muskegon.

Trustees recently toured the Muskegon Chronicle building, 981 Third, to see whether it would be a good fit for a downtown center. The building will be vacated early next year as The Chronicle starts operating as part of the new MLive Media Group. The Chronicle’s newsgathering and advertising operations will be headquartered at the nearby Sidock Building, 379 W. Western, in Muskegon.

To be part of the (downtown) renewal, we think that’s an important thing, Portenga said.

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