Photo by Denise Sullivan, NPCC News Bureau Gail Knott, Mid-Plains Community College Ogallala Extended Campus Coordinator, cuts the ribbon.

Photo by Denise Sullivan, NPCC News Bureau

Photo by  Gail Knott, Ogallala Campus Coordinator, at left and Kristi Salestrom, Area Director of Student Success & Retention, in the entrance of the new building.

Photo by Denise Sullivan, NPCC News Bureau One of the classrooms

Mid-Plains Community College has a new extended campus building in Ogallala, with more classroom space to serve students.

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The new building is at 512 East B.

The official grand opening was Thursday with a ribbon cutting, tours of the building remarks by Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy.

“One of the best ways to grow Nebraska is to provide education and job opportunities to encourage talented young people to remain here,” Sheehy said. “MPCC has been invaluable in creating an atmosphere that provides lifelong learning.”

MPCC President Ryan Purdy said the new Extended Campus truly belongs to the community.

“This is your college,” he said. “We are committed to you.”

Purdy told the crowd that the new facility is not just for traditional students, but will offer training and educational opportunities for business and industry as well.

Mid-Plains Community College was previously in a 1,500-square-foot building with one classroom/reception area and two small offices. The city encouraged the college to find an alternate site, but MPCC was unable to find something to meet its physical and fiscal requirements.

Ultimately, Ogallala officials proposed a partnership with MPCC for a facility to meet the educational needs of their portion of MPCC’s service area. It was suggested that a vacated 7,442-square-foot building that previously housed a call center would be ideal.

Once a deal was reached, the construction process and fundraising began. Work on the building was finished in late July.

“I can’t say enough about what a great partner MPCC has been through all this,” said Drew Krab, the President of Keith County Area Development.