A year after hoisting the final piece of structural streel into place, Rock Valley College’s new Downtown West Campus opened Aug. 14 with a ribbon-cutting celebration.
The $55 million campus, located at 315 S. Winnebago St., represents the college’s growing presence in downtown Rockford.
“The new RVC Downtown West Campus is really the epitome of what we mean by community,” said Howard Spearman, president of Rock Valley College. “It is one of the ways we are living out our mission to empower students and community through lifelong learning. It is a way that we are successfully executing our strategic plan around access, exceptional education, exceptional training also cultural excellence.
“What does that mean down here? It means that we are opening up access in an area that needs more opportunities regarding education. … This is not an endpoint. It’s a gateway.”
The 50,000-square-foot facility will offer programs in automotive technology (including electric, gas, and diesel engines), collision repair, truck driver training, criminal justice, early childhood education, human services and adult education.
The space will also feature community areas.
“Dr. Howard Spearman has invested so much time and passion into these projects that will revitalize the downtown and the west side with new young people coming here for education,” said Brent Johnson, president of Ringland-Johnson Construction. “The over $55 million investment employed 250 construction tradespeople — all local, all union — throughout this project and made a real difference in the economy of downtown Rockford.”
The Rock Valley College Foundation has launched the Campaign for Access and Opportunity, a $2.5 million scholarship initiative to eliminate financial barriers for Downtown West campus students.
Construction began in March 2024.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rock Valley College celebrates opening of $55M Downtown West Campus
Reporting by Corina Curry, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Corina Curry, Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY Network
