By Pheobe Fries, Reporter.
A Saginaw Center has been on Delta’s list of top priorities since the Board of Trustees meeting back in Oct. 2015.
The construction of a Saginaw based center was, as of Oct. 2015, placed on hold due to funding issues. Delta’s main concern at the time was receiving necessary funds in order to continue with the project.
However, as of Jun. 29, 2016, Gov. Rick Snyder has approved and signed a funding package that includes the planning of Delta’s Saginaw Center, along with thirteen additional projects.
Delta’s Director of Facilities Management, Larry Ramseyer, says that Delta is now looking to hire architects and engineers to help with the design and construction of the center. “We are in the last stages of finalizing the program, although considering a location for the center has yet to be determined. The plan is to have the consultant come to the October board meeting and present the final program statement” says Ramseyer.
According to Ramseyer, site information is being re-visited by Delta’s consultants. “Our plan is to recommend to the board a final site at the November board meeting,” Ramseyer says.
Jeanine Brownlie, a Delta student and Saginaw resident says, “I think a Saginaw Center would benefit people living in Saginaw, Hemlock, St. Charles, Merrill etc. because it would be a lesser drive, and could even give some students the opportunity to go to college because it is closer to their home.”
Brownlie additionally claims that she would schedule classes at a Saginaw Center because it would save her time and money.
According to Ramseyer, a Saginaw center would help to counter Delta’s decrease in enrollment. “Our goal is to design a building in order to increase enrollment up to about 1,200 students,” says Ramseyer.
Ramseyer expects the increase in enrollment may take five years or longer, however, he remains optimistic about the opportunities that a Saginaw center would offer.
