A public grand opening ceremony has been set for the Regional Innovation Center (RIC) in Eldridge, at 2 p.m. Friday, May 9.
The event, at the RIC, located at 2205 S.1st St., will feature a ribbon cutting, tours and treats made by a student culinary class.
The Regional Innovation Center has been called a ground-breaking collaborative project set to transform career and technical education in eastern Iowa. This state-of-the-art, 84,000-square-foot facility represents a significant investment in the region’s future workforce. It aims to provide more than 9,000 students with access to high-quality, hands-on learning experiences in high-demand fields.
A partnership between Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) and several community school districts, including Bettendorf, Central DeWitt, Davenport, Durant, North Scott, and Pleasant Valley, the RIC is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in careers requiring both skilled labor and technical expertise in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) principles.
The $18.7 million project was made possible through a combination of investments from the North Scott Community School District (more than $12 million), funding from EICC, public and private grants, and support from businesses and individuals. An additional $3 million has been invested in high-quality equipment and specialized resources to ensure students have access to the latest technology and industry-standard tools.
Early this year, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joined business leaders, education officials and local elected leaders on a tour of the new facility. The RIC began hosting classes in January.
