College opens satellite location

College opens satellite location

Courtesy MCC

A college in the region has opened a new location.

Muskegon Community College invested $450,000 to establish a permanent location in Ottawa County, at 16777 Lincoln St. in Grand Haven.

MCC purchased the 6,550-square-foot building last December to move from the lower level of the Grand Haven Community Center, at 421 Columbus Ave., which MCC has rented since 2012.

MCC’s Ottawa Center includes an adjoining 80-space parking lot, two partitioned smart technology classrooms that can be opened to seat up to 100 people, a computer lab, a flexible-use room, a student lounge and an administrative office.

The contractor on the renovation project was Grand Rapids-based Wolverine Building Group. The project's architect was Spring Lake-based BMA Architects. The interior designer was Karen Stauffer Interiors of BMA Architects.

MCC said the new location in Ottawa County more effectively meets student needs, while accommodating an expected growth in student enrollment

Owning versus renting gives MCC greater flexibility with classroom use, maintenance and college and community activities.

A central location situated next to Grand Haven High School and much closer to West Ottawa, Zeeland and Holland schools better supports MCC’s Early College program in the area.

About 1,200 students in Ottawa County are enrolled at MCC, and about 400 of them could enroll specifically at the Ottawa Center.

A variety of courses will be offered at the location this fall: English, sociology, political science, theater, computer information systems, mathematics, geology, physical education, anthropology, history, philosophy and accounting.

Classes officially started at the Ottawa Center this week.

MCC first began offering classes in Grand Haven in the late 1970s.

“By establishing this center, we expect to serve Ottawa residents for years to come,” MCC President Dale Nesbary said.

MCC also offers classes in Ottawa County at the GVSU Meijer Campus in Holland and the Community Services Building in Coopersville.

The grand opening ceremony for the MCC Ottawa Center is set for Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will include brief remarks, a ribbon cutting, tours and refreshments.