Muskegon Community College’s Downtown Center will be known as the Carolyn I. and Peter Sturrus Technology Center: story of donation and general plans for building. https://www.muskegoncc.edu/news-and-events/mcc-receives-record-1-5-million-gift-to-name-downtown-center/
What equipment they have and in which rooms: https://www.muskegoncc.edu/administration/mcc-downtown-center/
Video from 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=121&v=Y0D2_2QgZBs
Article from 2011 on taking over Chronicle building: https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/12/muskegon_community_college_loo_3.html
Opening of center: https://www.muskegoncc.edu/news-and-events/public-invited-downtown-to-mcc-sturrus-technology-center-grand-opening-jan-11/
Blurb from MCC:
The Carolyn I. and Peter Sturrus Technology Center, which opened for classes during the Fall 2017 semester, is a 75,000 square foot renovated facility that was the former home to the Muskegon Chronicle and the Masonic Temple. The Center houses MCC’s Applied Technology programs in CAD, Electronics/Automation, Engineering, Machining, Metal Casting, Materials, and Welding. The Center also encompasses the Rooks|Sarnicola Entrepreneur Institute with its state-of-the-art Richard and Ann Kraft Rapid Prototype Center and the Lakeshore Fab Lab, with 3-D printers, mini-mills, robotics, laser etching and vinyl making capabilities for entrepreneurs to create and test their ideas. In June 2015, local developer Jonathan Rooks donated the 23,790 square-foot former Masonic Temple to MCC for its Entrepreneurial Studies program and related business-generating activities. Nick Sarnicola, a West Michigan native and highly successful entrepreneur, and his wife, Ashley, then created a $200,000 permanent endowment through their Next Gen Foundation to the Foundation for Muskegon Community College to support an annual $10,000 cash award for the best business idea generated by an MCC entrepreneurial program graduate. MCC received a $4.1 million grant to purchase equipment for educational programs in high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand occupations. The College earmarked most of those funds, part of the statewide $50 million Community College Skilled Trades Equipment Program, to buy equipment for the Sturrus Technology Center. The widespread regional support for the Sturrus Technology Center includes many named areas within the building.
Blurb from MiBiz, April 2018
https://mibiz.com/sections/real-estate-development/watch-them-go-once-nearly-vacant-and-abandoned,-downtown-muskegon-finds-new-life
EDUCATIONAL CENTER
At the same time, higher education has also helped bring more foot traffic and economic activity to the downtown.�
Both Baker College and Muskegon Community College have been key players in the downtown’s revitalization. Baker, an early buyer of a former mall lot, opened the Culinary Institute of Michigan(CIM), and later the student-run Courses Restaurant, in September 2009.�
With the passage of a millage and a major fundraising campaign, MCC embarked on renovating the old Muskegon Chronicle and Masonic Temple buildings, across the street from CIM and Hackley Park. Students started attending the $14.8 million Sturrus Technology Center last fall, and at full capacity, MCC expects 2,000 students and staff will have a presence in the city’s downtown.
“We wanted to see students parking downtown, going to businesses and populating the streets, and we are seeing that,” MCC President Dale Nesbary said.�
The center features 75,000 square feet of classrooms for 20 of MCC’s programs, plus high-tech labs and equipment for applied technology programs in CAD, electronics, automation, engineering, machining, metal casting, materials and welding. The center also houses MCC’s experiential learning program, the Rooks Sarnicola Entrepreneur Institute and the Lakeshore Fab Lab, a space for entrepreneurs and established companies to create and test their ideas.�
The entire project involved buy-in from the community, MCC’s board and more than 200 business partners, many of whom donated to the center, Nesbary said.�
He had to ignore naysayers during the fundraising process, noting that the center’s opening shows that great things can occur when the community comes together.�
“I don’t think we should be stuck in a place where we’re believing we’re not a great community,” Nesbary said. “We’re way past the hump. We moved here because we could see the potential. We have businesses moving here, businesses locating their world headquarters here. This is a great location to be.”�