North Central Michigan College announced today that it has received a $25,000 gift to its Building Tomorrow Together campaign from the Consumers Energy Foundation.

The gift will provide funding to advance the college’s initiatives in several key areas, including:

  • Creating adaptable student-learning and collaboration spaces in the new Borra Learning Center, including seven new high-tech classrooms and a 3,000-square-foot Student Commons
  • Establishing a “First Stop” near college’s busiest classrooms to provide centralized access to support services including advising and counseling
  • Increasing STEM education and entrepreneurship across the curriculum
  • Expanding access to scholarship opportunities and student success supports

“The Consumers Energy Foundation is committed to building strong communities and ensuring all Michigan residents have access to world-class educational resources,” said Carolyn Bloodworth, executive director of the Consumers Energy Foundation.  “We are excited to help North Central expand its efforts to provide affordable, quality education that not only prepares students for high-demand jobs but ensures Northern Michigan has a skilled talent pool available now and for many years to come.”

North Central’s Borra Learning Center will open in August, in time for the beginning of the Fall 2021 semester.  The $7.4 million center is part of a $9.9 million campus enhancement project funded by a capital outlay from the State of Michigan and investments by donor-partners.

NCMC President David Roland Finley said all gifts to the Building Tomorrow Together campaign support the college’s vision to be the first choice for higher education, empowering all to achieve more than they believe possible.

“This generous gift from the Consumers Energy Foundation will provide North Central graduates with the tools to not only keep pace with the demands of a dynamic, interconnected global economy, but to lead the way,” Finley said.  “Together, we’re shaping the future of higher education in Northern Michigan.”

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider.  The Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan — its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity.  In 2020, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed over $19 million to Michigan nonprofits.  For more information, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.

North Central Michigan College is an open-door community college based in Petoskey, with additional locations offering classes and services in Cheboygan and Gaylord.  North Central’s mission is to provide exceptional, accessible, relevant higher education of and for the community.  North Central is an Achieving the Dream Leader College with a designation of Veteran Friendly Silver by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.  For more information, visit www.ncmich.edu.

For more information:
Megan Van Horn
Content Media Administrator
231-439-6399