Aug. 3—NORTH MANKATO — In 4 years, college students at South Central Faculty in North Mankato ought to have a brand new high-tech studying lab to assist put together them for jobs in civil engineering, architectural drafting and GIS.

Bolton & Menk, which has lengthy employed SCC grads, will donate cash and in-kind help to assist construct the brand new lab.

The Bolton & Menk Infrastructure Options Lab will present a high-tech studying surroundings for college students in numerous packages, together with civil engineering expertise, geographic data programs, and architectural drafting and design.

“From buildings to highways, our college students in these and different packages will make a major affect on the infrastructure of our area,” SCC President Annette Parker mentioned at an occasion on campus Wednesday.

Parker mentioned the faculty will search extra funding from the state college system because it places collectively its request for bonding cash from the state Legislature. She mentioned Bolton & Menk’s help will assist SCC’s case for state funding.

“Having the business help we’ve got makes a really sturdy proposal,” she mentioned.

Parker mentioned that even when SCC misses out on getting state bonding cash — which is extremely aggressive — she is assured the lab will probably be constructed through different funding sources.

Bolton & Menk, primarily based in Mankato, will not be making public the quantity of their contribution.

“We worth our partnership with South Central Faculty. Their dedication to growing high quality business professionals is crucial to advancing the infrastructure all through Minnesota and past,” mentioned Bradley DeWolf, president and CEO of Bolton & Menk.

“Our funding isn’t just to the faculty, but in addition in our future workers, constructing secure, sustainable, and exquisite communities the place all of us are in a position to thrive.”

DeWolf mentioned the agency at present has 40 SCC grads on its workers. The agency has about 800 workers. He mentioned they get many workers from SCC, Minnesota State College and different space schools and universities. The corporate additionally has branches in South and North Carolina and attracts workers from schools and universities there.

Erin Aanenson, government director of the SCC North Mankato Campus Basis, mentioned Bolton & Menk has lengthy been a robust supporter of the faculty. “Their beneficiant contributions embrace financial and in-kind help, scholarship funding, worker service on the muse’s board of administrators and committees.”

Subsequent steps for the lab embrace figuring out an applicable location on the campus and dealing with college to plan the very best house for college students to study. Development is anticipated to start in 2025 and be accomplished in 2026.