craigdailypress.com

Photo by Shawn McHugh

Rachel Wilkes, left, Mallory Johnston, center, and Annette Reidhead warm up in hair dryer chairs during a cosmetology class at Colorado Northwestern Community College. All three women started their yearlong training program 2 1/2 months ago.

For the next two years, Karen Stillion and her class of cosmetology students will be living, working and learning in anticipation.

In 2011, Colorado North­western Community College will have finished its first building on the site of its new campus, a 14,000-square-foot career and technical building that will house a new and upgraded cosmetology center.

“We won’t even know what to do, it will be so exciting,” Stillion said. “We’re really excited to have windows and a real storefront.”

Stillion and cosmetology program Director Tracy Caddy have worked with architects and designers to build the perfect facility ideal for learning, but there is still a long way to go.

Before CNCC breaks ground on the project, it is intent on securing $3 million in grants and donations from the community.

Last week, the Craig City Council voted to donate $50,000 over five years to the college to help fund the new building project.

CNCC President John Boyd said he was thrilled by the city’s commitment.

“It’s huge, because the city’s really getting behind us and showing leadership,” Boyd said. “It means they understand the importance of the college to the town, so it’s huge to get the city to back us.”

He said the city has been a longtime supporter of the college, but this is the first time they have offered financial support.

“This is the first time we’ve asked, though,” he said. “It’s because of the type of campaign. It’s a really focused effort on major donations and securing grants.”

Boyd said they have already raised $2.5 million and hope to end the campaign just in time for ground to be broken on the new building.

The college is in the process of bidding out the contracting job, and hopes to be under way by the time snow melts in the spring.

Boyd said the new campus would bring large economic growth potential to the community.

“As the campus grows, we can produce more nursing students,” he said. “As dorms come up, it also brings in a group of people that may ultimately end up staying here. Within 10 years, this campus could be a huge asset to the city. And, there’s a cultural component that will be developing along with it.”

Craig Mayor Don Jones agreed that the new campus could change the look of Craig in coming years.

“Overall, it’ll give our kids here a reason to stay,” Jones said. “Years ago, kids would go away to college and never come back because they didn’t have a reason to. Now we’ll bring in more students, and maybe have Ma and Pa and Grandma come out and visit them, and maybe they’ll like the community.”

He said the donation is contingent on the availability of funds each year, with the first $10,000 donation scheduled for January 2011.

But, Boyd said that every little donation will make a difference to the future of the college.

“It takes every piece of the pie to make a whole pie,” Boyd said. “And I just can’t thank the city enough for that. I hope I’ll be able to make a meeting sometime soon to be able to thank them in person.”