<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=17wz0B_1H5fUsJK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=17wz0B_1H5fUsJK00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>An architect’s rendering shows the exterior of the new Marcus Regional Center and Career Academy in Marcus. Schelling Construction was awarded the contract for renovations to the former Hometown Guesthouse Hotel. Image submitted Image submitted</figcaption></figure>SHELDON—The Northwest Iowa Community College Board of Trustees has awarded the contract for renovations to the future home of the Marcus Regional Center and Career Academy to a Sioux Center company.Schelling Construction submitted the winning bid of $1,873,240 for renovations to the former Hometown Guesthouse Hotel at 207 Eagle Ave., along Highway 3 on the southeast edge of Marcus.NCC president John Hartog said seven bids were received.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=18LqAo_1H5fUsJK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=18LqAo_1H5fUsJK00" width="975" height="1383" >“We are very thankful for these contractors and those firms who took an interest in this project. I think it’s a good project. It means, by and large, inside work, so it is ideal for the winter,” Hartog said.The Marcus regional center is expected to welcome students in the fall of 2027, offering high-demand pathways in education, welding, healthcare, and design technology.Through these pathways, students will have opportunities to earn valuable credentials in areas such as certified nursing assistant, safety training, CPR/first aid, and computing technology.Students will gain hands-on experience in supportive learning environments that help build confidence and clarify career direction.The regional center will serve high school students not only in MMCRU but also South O’Brien, Kingsley-Pierson, Remsen St. Mary’s, and River Valley.“We are very open to welcoming additional K-12 partners,” Hartog said. “We would invite other school districts that might be interested in joining to start a conversation with us. This is made possible because of the overarching vision shared by NCC and Western Iowa Tech Community College. They believe in this project also, and they have signed off on this.“This is a complex project, but the beauty of it is how many partners have come together to make this possible.”NCC was awarded a $1 million Career Academy Incentive Fund grant from the state of Iowa. The college is able to deploy that money with accelerated career education funds.“We are able to save those up year by year and package them together,” Hartog said. “That’s how we were able to purchase the former hotel. It’s an investment that reflects a shared commitment among state and local leaders, NCC, and partnering school districts to strengthen rural workforce pipelines and expand access to career-connected learning.“The college will forever be grateful to the shareholders of that hotel, and they worked so nicely with us, and we are very grateful. The partnership allows us to be able to do our best for the students of the region.”He said the regional center will reduce the geographic and financial barriers for rural students and for their families.“We are very excited about this,” Hartog said. “Theoretically, if the students go both junior and senior years, families could save up to $8,000 in tuition and get a start on college.”He said the program also makes students more likely to remain in the area, buy a home here, and start a family.“This is good for the community as a whole,” Hartog said. “Rural Iowa needs regional centers like this.”</div></body>

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SHELDON—The Northwest Iowa Community College Board of Trustees has awarded the contract for renovations to the future home of the Marcus Regional Center and Career Academy to a Sioux Center company. Schelling Construction submitted the winning bid of $1,873,240 for renovations to the former Hometown Guesthouse Hotel at 207...

NCC awards contract for Marcus regional center

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SHELDON—The Northwest Iowa Community College Board of Trustees has awarded the contract for renovations to the future home of the Marcus Regional Center an

NCC awards contract for Marcus regional center

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