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