Groundbreaking Set for August 10 in Mountain View Ozarka College

Groundbreaking Set for August 10 in Mountain View

Published on July 22, 2010

Officials from Ozarka College have announced plans for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Student and Nursing Education Center to be located on Ozarka College Drive in Mountain View. A short ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10th at the building site with a reception to follow in the current facility. The public is invited to attend the celebration.

The permanent home of Ozarka College - Mountain View opened in August of 2005 after ten acres of land was purchased by the college in May of 2003. Enrollment has grown each year since the facility opened and the Ozarka College Board of Trustees recognized the need for additional space and unanimously approved a resolution to provide construction funding through institutional bond restructure at the quarterly meeting last Fall. Bond sales were finalized in early December, an architect was selected, and planning the facility began immediately.

President Dr. Richard Dawe explains the expansion at the Stone County site includes classrooms, offices and parking space. "Central to this project is a Student Center as well as a dedicated lab for the Mountain View nursing program. We have an increasing need overall for space as we continue to experience enrollment growth in Stone County."

Dawe adds, "The architectural firm of Polk, Stanley and Wilcox has worked diligently to incorporate the culture of Stone County into a state-of-the-art educational facility to meet the needs of the community. The building contract was officially awarded to Noacon, Inc. from Fairfield Bay. The parking lot construction was awarded to Tri-Co, Inc. out of Horseshoe Bend. Initial construction will begin early Fall, with grand opening tentatively set for Fall 2011."

Phase one of the new 10,500 square foot facility will include classrooms, nursing classroom/lab, lecture hall, student center, and a conference room. Naming opportunities are available for this project. Phase two of the expansion is an outdoor amphitheater which will be available to the community. Ozarka is seeking a combination of grant funding and community support for the amphitheater at this time.

For more information about the opportunity to support Ozarka College through this building campaign in Stone County, or for more information about the Groundbreaking event, contact Gin Brown at 870-269-5200 or the Development Office at 870-368-7371.