Forward Grenada, Inc., donates $260,312.64 to Holmes Grenada.

By Steve Diffey
Director of Communications
Holmes Community College

Forward Grenada, Inc. presented Holmes Community College a $260,312.64 donation to assist the institution with its new classroom facility at the Grenada Center.  Holmes Community College administrators, board of trustee members and representatives from Forward Grenada, Inc., held a formal presentation Monday at the Grenada Center.
Groundbreaking for the $3.5 million facility is anticipated in March, and Holmes is expected to be in the building for Fall 2012 classes, according to Grenada Center Vice President Dr. Jim Haffey.  The building features a physical therapy assistant classroom and lab, three biology labs, a general classroom, a large seminar/lecture room, computer lab, video classroom and office space.
The facility will be located between the main building at the Grenada Center and Grenada Lake Medical Center.  Chip Denton of Forward Grenada, Inc., said, “These are the final funds from a campaign we started back in 1998.  “The Grenada Center is a very important part of our community.  The college is committed to increasing its offering of programs, including bringing a physical therapy assistant program and cannot do so without additional space.
“The new facility will provide much needed space for new programs. The committee felt as though this was an excellent investment in the future labor force of our county.”
Forward Grenada, Inc., board members Hays Branscome, Armstead Townes and Steve Gard were on hand for the presentation while Bob Jenkins and Gary Worsham were unable to attend.
Holmes President Dr. Glenn Boyce expressed his appreciation.  “This money will make a difference for hundreds of students over the years,” Boyce said. “We would not be able to expand programs without this new facility.  In addition, start up costs for new medical programs are very expensive.  This donation allows us to adjust our funding and move forward with our plans to bring a physical therapy assistant program to the Grenada Center.”
“Forward Grenada was instrumental in the original project to build the ITC, and we appreciate them having the confidence in the school once again to entrust us with these important funds,” Haffey said. “We will put them to good use to enhance the community.”
 The Grenada Center has recently gone through some renovations, and most of it was done in house by Holmes employees.  The offices on the east side of the main building have been redone with admissions, financial aid and the business office in one location to better serve students.  The administrative offices and nursing suite has been redone as well.  The majority of the main building was also repainted this fall.  Plans are in the works to upgrade landscaping and to continue to improve any areas that need updating.
 “We want every corner of our campus to be of high quality,” Haffey said.  “With Dr. Boyce’s strong support for our Center we are very close to that goal. Bringing a new building to Grenada with a designated entranceway is going to help us reach our goal of a comprehensive campus. The future is very bright for our operations in Grenada. We feel very blessed to have support from local entities like Forward Grenada. It reaffirms to the college’s faculty and staff our communities’ enthusiasm for our institution, and that helps make us great.”