The State Fair Community College Foundation recently received $15,000 from Michael and Christy Otten of Lake of the Ozarks for its Stronger Workforce, Greater Community capital campaign to help build the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center.

According to a news release, the new building on the Sedalia campus will expand the college’s capacity to meet the growing demand for technical workforce training and strengthen the communities it serves.

SFCC Foundation Executive Director, Mary Treuner, said, “We are very grateful to Michael and Christy Otten for their generous gift to the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center. The foundation and college appreciate the Ottens for supporting our mission to provide relevant and responsive learning experiences that empower the students and communities we serve to prosper.”

The campaign, Stronger Workforce, Greater Community: A Capital Campaign for the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center and Center for Excellence was launched last year.

The college broke ground on the new center in December 2020 on the site of SFCC’s original buildings, affectionately known as Plywood U. Information about the project and ongoing construction is available at www.sfccmo.edu/OHWIC.

PHOTO: With help from community donors and the SFCC Foundation, State Fair Community is building the Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center on the Sedalia campus. The center was named in honor of Howard, a former Sedalia resident, whose family made a signification donation to the building campaign along with Michael and Christy Otten and others. (Courtesy of State Fair Community College)