On the November 4 primary ballots, Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) is seeking voters’ approval for a $55 million dollar bond to expand and modernize its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
These programs include high-demand fields such as construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), welding, diesel technology, automotive technology, and logistics.
The more in-depth purpose of this building is that Southwest Iowa is experiencing a critical shortage of skilled trades professionals.
The bond will fund the construction of a new 86,000 square foot Transportation and Logistics building, doubling capacity for automotive, diesel, and CDL training. Existing space will be renovated to expand programs such as welding, construction, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical.
Vice President and Institutional Advancement at IWCC, Molly Noon told the Echoes that the bond for the new building will support not just Iowa Western, but surrounding schools too.
“The bond will support the construction of a new Transportation and Logistics facility,” said Noon. “It will also support the renovation and modernization of existing facilities in Atlantic, Clarinda, Council Bluffs, and Shenandoah. The new and renovated facilities will increase Iowa Western’s capacity to enroll and educate students in high-demand CTE programs.”
The diesel technology program at IWCC is currently taking up space in an old greenhouse on campus. Where there used to be plants, now there are engines.
Clint Myer, who is the Chair of Automotive and Diesel programs, said the new building will benefit not just his class, but his students too.
“This new building will benefit all my students in the Diesel and Automotive programs. Right now, we cannot accommodate all students who are interested in attending the program,” said Myer. “We are in a space that was designed for 35 students; we currently have 72 students in the diesel program alone. I have been forced to expand my lab spaces into areas of the building not originally designed for a Diesel lab space.”
Junior Patrick Cook, who is enrolled in the diesel technician courses at IWCC, thinks a new building will not just benefit himself, but the teachers, too.
“A new building might give us easier access to tools without having to walk all the way to the shop for whatever it is you may need,” said Cook. “On top of that, it might open up different opportunities for our teachers to teach us and show us things.”
The biggest part and opportunity of this building is the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) courses. With wider openings for turns, parking spots for semis, and a parking lot for students to drive semis in, this building will offer the perfect opportunity for students earning a CDL.
Matt Mancuso, the VIP of Business and Community Education at Iowa Western, said the new building will provide resources and opportunities not just for current students, but future students too.
“It will give them [students] access to resources and opportunities that didn’t exist before—like more lab space, simulators, and industry partnerships,” said Mancuso. “It will also attract more students into transportation and skilled trades, which will strengthen the local workforce and create more career pathways for future generations.”
This building is not just about the opportunities; it’s about the structure, too. HGM Associates Inc. is the engineering firm behind this project.
HGM Civil Engineer Lincoln Rodenburg is the signing engineer behind this project.
“The process for this building was that HGM completed what is called a Master Plan for IWCC, where we looked at important goals for the project and discussed how this project may impact other parts of their campus,” said Rodenburg. “The next steps are to get a survey of the site and get geotechnical information. From there, HGM met with IWCC several times to define what they wanted. Once we have a good idea of goals, we start detailed design. We submitted draft plans to IWCC to review at 30%, 60%, and 90% milestones and make changes based on those reviews at the milestones.”
With the Master Plan having been created in 2023 and finished in Sept. of 2025. If the bond is approved, HGM expects construction to take around 2 years.
The decision for approval of a $55 million bond referendum for Iowa Western Community College depends on the voters. This building will not only expand and modernize CTE programs, but also expand opportunities and the workforce in Iowa.
