Sustainability & Entrepreneurial Education for a Global Workforce

1. Sustainability & Entrepreneurial Education for a Global Workforce NorthWest Arkansas Community College Dr. Becky Paneitz Dr. Susan Holmes Dr. Donna Wood

2. Serving the Workforce of NW Arkansas • Regional population of 385,000 • 13% Hispanic population • Fortune 500 companies • (Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, & Tyson Foods) • 16,000+ served in 2007 • 95% of all students stay in region • Fall 2008 Semester: • 18th consecutive record fall enrollment • 7,298 credit students; 63,331 SSCH • 1,000+ workforce development • 1,100 adult/community education

3. Serving a Global Workforce • Critical Regional Industries* • Manufacturing • Government • Retail trade • Health care & social assistance • Transportation & warehousing • Construction • Management & professional/technical services *Source: Gap Analysis Regional Overview (in partnership with ADHE & AATYC)

4. Serving a Global Workforce • Top Community Needs • Training for veterans, women, minorities • Support for small business • Education & industry partnerships • “Hands on” learning opportunities • Collaborative engagement • “Green” leadership • Entrepreneurial education • Training & support for critical regional industries And the journey begins…

5. Timeline • Fall 2006 • Brought together regional stakeholders • Presented idea for “Entrepreneurial Center” • Feedback: broaden our vision/scope • February 2007 • $4M challenge grant proposal developed and presented to Walton Family Foundation

6. Timeline • April 2007 • $4M challenge grant awarded • May 2007 • $1.8M matching gift from Jack Shewmaker • Fall 2007 • Updated NWACC’s Master Plan • Conducted stakeholder surveys & focus groups • Stakeholder feedback used to develop preliminary program plan

7. Toward a Global Business Development Center • Used competitive process to select WD&D as project architect (also designed Shewmaker Center for Workforce Development in November 2006) • Formed a “Users Group” of internal stakeholders to meet with architect to design the building • Planning process evolved as a result of stakeholder feedback, industry partnerships, & donor support • Talks with Stribling Packaging and Wal-Mart resulted in addition of sustainability curriculum to GBDC

8. Toward a Global Business Development Center • NWACC leased ground to NWACC Foundation • Foundation secured commercial loan with Arvest Bank • RFQ issued to potential contractors in Summer 2008; Flintco selected September 2008 • Completed design is a 40,000 sq. ft. $8M project • The Global Business Development Center will be a regional hub for entrepreneurial activities • Four GBDC institutes will serve & strengthen northwest Arkansas regional community

13. Preliminary Program Planning • Entrepreneurial Studies Institute • Retail Institute • Transportation and Logistics Institute • Stribling Sustainability Institute • John & Emily Douglas Learning Resource Center • Horace & Jeretta Hardwick Hospitality Center • Randy & Valorie Lawson SIFE Center • University Partnership Center

18. Serving a Global Workforce • Our vision for the GBDC • Strengthen national initiatives to develop entrepreneurs • Create more sustainable business and industries • Strengthen the nation’s ability to compete in a global economy The Global Business Development Center Opens January 2010