Sustainability & Entrepreneurial Education for a Global Workforce
NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Dr. Becky Paneitz
Dr. Susan Holmes
Dr. Donna Wood
Serving the Workforce of NW Arkansas
•Regional population of 385,000
•13% Hispanic population•Fortune 500 companies (Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, & Tyson Foods)
•16,000+ served in 2007•95% of all students stay in region
•Fall 2008 Semester: •18th consecutive record fall enrollment• 7,298 credit students; 63,331 SSCH •1,000+ workforce development•1,100 adult/community education
Serving a Global Workforce•Critical Regional Industries*•Manufacturing•Government•Retail trade•Health care & social assistance•Transportation & warehousing•Construction•Management & professional/technical services
*Source: Gap Analysis Regional Overview (in partnership with ADHE & AATYC)
Serving a Global Workforce•Top Community Needs•Training for veterans, women, minorities•Support for small business•Education & industry partnerships•“Hands on” learning opportunities •Collaborative engagement •“Green” leadership•Entrepreneurial education•Training & support for critical regional industries
And the journey begins…
Timeline
•Fall 2006•Brought together regional stakeholders•Presented idea for “Entrepreneurial Center”•Feedback: broaden our vision/scope
•February 2007•$4M challenge grant proposal developed and presented to Walton Family Foundation
Timeline
•April 2007•$4M challenge grant awarded
•May 2007•$1.8M matching gift from Jack Shewmaker
•Fall 2007•Updated NWACC’s Master Plan•Conducted stakeholder surveys & focus groups •Stakeholder feedback used to develop preliminary program plan
Toward a Global Business Development Center
• Used competitive process to select WD&D as project architect (also designed Shewmaker Center for Workforce Development in November 2006)
• Formed a “Users Group” of internal stakeholders to meet with architect to design the building
• Planning process evolved as a result of stakeholder feedback, industry partnerships, & donor support
• Talks with Stribling Packaging and Wal-Mart resulted in addition of sustainability curriculum to GBDC
• NWACC leased ground to NWACC Foundation
• Foundation secured commercial loan with Arvest Bank
• RFQ issued to potential contractors in Summer 2008; Flintco selected September 2008
• Completed design is a 40,000 sq. ft. $8M project
• The Global Business Development Center will be a regional hub for entrepreneurial activities
• Four GBDC institutes will serve & strengthen northwest Arkansas regional community
Toward a Global Business Development Center
Preliminary Program Planning
• Entrepreneurial Studies Institute
• Retail Institute
• Transportation and Logistics Institute
• Stribling Sustainability Institute
• John & Emily Douglas Learning Resource Center
• Horace & Jeretta Hardwick Hospitality Center
• Randy & Valorie Lawson SIFE Center
• University Partnership Center
Serving a Global Workforce •Our vision for the GBDC
•Strengthen national initiatives to develop entrepreneurs•Create more sustainable business and industries•Strengthen the nation’s ability to compete in a global economy
The Global Business Development Center
Opens January 2010