Northeast Iowa Community College to expand healthcare education with new facility

Northeast Iowa Community College is expanding its career pathways and community offerings with a move to new facilities, powered by support from the community.

The community college announced in a news release Wednesday the relocation of its Manchester Center to a larger facility that sits closer to the West Delaware County Community School District’s high school, providing more access to high school students interested in NICC programming.

West Delaware County Community School District Superintendent Jen Vance said in the release the district is excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring to students. NICC will expand its Healthcare Academy with the relocation, which the release stated will allow high school students to take prerequisite courses for postsecondary healthcare programs and explore the field’s different career paths.

“West Delaware is focused on creating opportunities that connect education to high-demand careers,” said West Delaware County Community School District Superintendent Jen Vance in the release. “Partnering with NICC allows our students to explore the healthcare field through hands-on learning and build skills that are immediately relevant. Our goal is to continue expanding these types of partnerships into other career pathways, ensuring even more students can access meaningful, real-world experiences while strengthening our local workforce.”

Dupaco Community Credit Union has served as the Manchester Center’s home for 15 years, according to the release, and the district, city and community college have worked for a year to plan the relocation. The partners in the relocation hope to complete their move by Aug. 1.

As part of the move, the community college’s Certified Nurse Aid lab will increase its number of beds and bring in new equipment “to simulate a professional medical environment,” the release stated. Spaces for adult and continuing education will also be expanded with the move, and a 40-person-capacity public meeting room with technology to support online meetings will also be added.

“These improvements will serve as a catalyst for increased educational opportunities, benefiting both youth and adult learners across the greater Manchester area,” said NICC Manchester Center Director Ed Vance in the release.