Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. Donates $25,000 Toward New ANC Center for Allied Technologies

Photo (L to R) Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. board member Neil Burge, President/CEO Brad Harrison, and board member David Wildy, present ANC President Dr. James Shemwell with a check for $25,000 to be used toward the construction of Arkansas Northeastern College's Center for Allied Technologies.

April 26, 2018 – Arkansas Northeastern College’s Center for Allied Technologies project received another boost from local business as representatives of the Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Inc. presented a check for $25,000 to ANC President Dr. James Shemwell today.

“As we come to the final stages of construction on our new Center for Allied Technologies, we are so very pleased to have the Mississippi County Electric Cooperative donate toward the project. The fact that the College itself is not a customer of the MCEC utility company, shows how important they view the economic development work we are doing here for the citizens of this area. MCEC recognizes the value of education and has long been a supporter of educational initiatives in this county,” stated Shemwell.

For their donation to the new facility, MCEC will have naming rights to a general classroom.  

Construction of ANC Center for Allied Technologies began this spring and is scheduled to be completed in time for Fall classes in August 2018. The facility will provide students with more opportunities to learn in an atmosphere that will simulate real world work environments, where spaces and equipment are designed with the curriculum in mind. This facility will be a focal point for not only the campus, but the community as the 90,000 square foot building will boast beautiful architectural lines with the highest technological advances incorporated into the plans. 

MCEC has been a longtime supporter of Arkansas Northeastern College. “We are so very appreciative to have the support of companies like the Mississippi County Electric Cooperative,” said Shemwell, citing a long relationship with the company that includes years of support to ANC Foundation events.

The Center for Allied Technologies, to be located on the ANC Main Campus, will actually decrease the College’s overall facilities by 30,000 square feet by consolidating the Burdette Center, Harry L. Crisp Center, and the Aircraft Metals and Engineering (ACME) Center—with an estimated costs savings for the College of approximately $100,000 a year in maintenance.  This new facility will feature a headquarters for the College’s customized training force—The Solutions Group, including general purpose classrooms, electrical classroom & lab, mechanical classroom/lab, safety classroom/lab, heating, ventilation and air conditioning classroom & laboratory, computer classroom, and large multi-purpose room. Additionally, a world-class welding laboratory will be available for students.

Technical-Secondary Center students from area high schools also will be served by this facility through classroom & laboratories for advanced manufacturing, welding, criminal justice, education, and construction/carpentry.  The design incorporates a computer lab for the Technical-Secondary Center. Also featured is an aircraft hangar/lab, combination non-destructive testing (NDT) & composites laboratory, and general purpose classrooms to fully accommodate ANC’s Federal Aviation Administration—certified Aviation Maintenance Program.