Ivy Tech Community College–Northeast officially dedicated The Steel Dynamics, Inc. Keith E. Busse Technology Center at a formal ceremony today at2 p.m.on the college’s North Campus (4900 St. Joe Rd.). Several local and legislative dignitaries were on-hand to celebrate the occasion with the college, and Keith E. Busse, president and CEO of Steel Dynamics, Inc. (the primary donor and for whom the building was named) was especially honored.

Technology student Eric Brown spoke briefly to express how Ivy Tech ‘changed his life’, after which the event culminated with a ceremonial ‘flipping of a switch’ resulting in a lit bulb, a digital display of fireworks, and confetti canons.

The Technology Center(107,000 sq. ft.) anchors the west end of Ivy Tech’s new North Campus, and it houses most of the academic programs in the Schools of Technology and Applied Science & Engineering Technology. The physical growth and addition of the new Center comes at a good time — updated laboratories are necessary to meet the demands of area employers, and additional classroom space is needed with recent enrollment growth.

“The new location serves us well in respect to our neighbors (IPFW and the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center), which opens the door for future partnerships,” said John Walter, dean of the Schools of Technology, Applied Science & Engineering Technology, and Business. “It gives a new light on the importance of technology as it relates to everyone’s life.”

In the fall 2008, Keith E. Busse stepped forward with a very generous $1.2 million gift to the college from Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI), so the college named the Center after the company’s top executive.

“It’s great to be in a position to give back,” said Busse, president and CEO of SDI. “I would hope that having these skills readily available in the community will make northeastIndianaa more attractive destination from an economic development perspective.”

How it came to be

Ivy Tech Community College commissioned an examination of area employers and their needs, as well as an evaluation of the63 acresof land Ivy Tech acquired from the state. A total of160 acresof land, formerly the Fort Wayne Developmental Center, was split by the state at no cost between Ivy Tech and IPFW.

“A nice surprise came after submitting building plans for bids on the project,” said Interim Chancellor Russell Baker. “Given the economic situation at the time, contractors were competing for business, and low bids proved to save about $3 million over projections.”

The savings were utilized to shell-in an additional 27,000 sq. ft. for the automotive program. Anticipated completion of that portion of the center is January 2011.

Working with the community

In the planning stages, Ivy Tech consulted with several area advanced manufacturing business owners in finalizing new equipment purchases for theTechnologyCenterthanks to a grant from the Lilly Endowment. Working relationships with companies such as 80/20 Inc.; JB Tool, Die & Engineering; and Ottenweller Company Inc. are very important in assuring the college is doing what it can to provide the necessary training for the workforce of tomorrow.

Hitting the mark

The Steel Dynamics, Inc. Keith E. Busse Technology Center enhances the college’s mission by providing up-to-date technology laboratories and programs with the recent expanded enrollment, as well as increased classroom space for credit classes.

“This project aligns well with the college’s mission and supports the goals and primary objectives of this region,” Interim Chancellor Russell Baker said. “Ivy Tech’s vision in northeastIndianais to be the provider of choice for workforce education, whether it is through traditional degree programs, transfer education, continuing education, or customized workforce training and professional development.”

More than 90 percent of Ivy Tech–Northeast’s graduates stay in northeastIndiana. Therefore, the investments the state legislators and Keith Busse made were not just to enhance educational opportunities; they were investments in Indiana directly.