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SALT LAKE CITY -- In these tough economic times, local school districts aren't the only educational institutions looking for money. Local colleges are as well.
Many have had to cut programs and staff; but thanks to a federal grant, Salt Lake Community College is about to add to its curriculum.
At first glance, the backhoes, the orange markers and the boarded-up windows make the Salt Lake Community College building at 1500 S. State Street look like it is being torn down. In reality, it's being added to in a big way.
"We're very excited about the progress we're making here," says Salt Lake Community College spokesman Joy Tlou.
Recently, Salt Lake Community College was awarded $2.7 million for the types of programs that will be based in the new building.
"Everything from graphics arts to filmmaking, television, radio, instructional design and computer gaming -- and all sorts of programs like that," Tlou says.
The grant is from the U.S. Department of Labor. It's for community-based job training programs, which are exactly what the new digital media building will be for.
Plans to put all these programs into one building started years ago, before the economy sank. Now, $2.7 million will go a long way.
"For many of us at the college, it was a really big surprise," Tlou says.
He also says the college is expecting a record number of students for this coming fall. His advice: If you want to take classes, register now, because a lot of people are showing a lot of interest.
"What we're learning is that students, during this economic downturn, are coming back to us because they're in job transition or they are actually choosing to upgrade their skills and their backgrounds," Tlou says.
When this new digital media building is finished, Tlou thinks a lot people will want to learn those new skills.
"$2.7 million is a real confirmation that we are starting a program that's really going to be beneficial to students in the area," he says.
The facility should be done and open by April 2012. It's expected to bring in an additional 7,000 students to campus.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
