ST. PAUL – Portage College secured a grant of up to $198,211 from the Ministry of Advanced Education for the design of the college’s “St. Paul Campus Right-Sizing” project.
The funding is aimed at addressing the aging infrastructure of the St. Paul campus, as well as planning for the campus’ future program delivery needs.
The grant will be used to identify necessary design and operational features. This includes determining the equipment and facilities required to support current and future programs, according to Nancy Broadbent, President and CEO of Portage College.
The project is “still in the really early stages,” says Broadbent.
Once the design phase is complete, the college can then apply for a grant for the construction phase. Broadbent explained that having shovel-ready drawings and cost estimates are essential for successfully applying and getting approved for further construction funding when opportunities arise.
There are plans to engage stakeholders in regard to the design of the project.
“We'll be working with community leaders to assess future needs for the college," says Broadbent, explaining some of the hopes include potentially expanding current programs at the St. Paul campus, or potentially adding more programs in the future.
“We’re just really excited to launch off and talk with stakeholders and our partners in the community, and get some designs done,” concludes Broadbent.
Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education, says the “St. Paul campus has a long history of supporting student success, and the Right-Sizing project is an exciting step to ensure this legacy continues.”
