September 7, 2000

Pappajohns Contribute $1.1 Million to Keeping NIACC First Campaign
Gift will go toward construction of new facility 
and continued support of entrepreneurial activities

The $1.1 million contribution from John Pappajohn and his wife, Mary, is the largest single gift in the history of the College. The Pappajohn family participated in the announcement at NIACC on September 7, 2000.

North Iowa Area Community College has announced a $1.1 million donation to the "Keeping NIACC First" major gifts campaign. The contribution, from John and Mary Pappajohn, is the largest in the history of the College.

The gift helps satisfy two key initiatives of the major gifts campaign -- expanding advanced technology programs and expanding the entrepreneurial center.

The new facility will also house technology-based seminar rooms and classrooms for the Information Systems Technology (IST) and E-Commerce, Web Design and Development programs. The latter program includes an "e-entrepreneurship" specialization option.

"Expanded entrepreneurship education blends beautifully with the IST and e-commerce programs," said Doug Morse, NIACC Pappajohn Center Director. "Individuals with information technology skills have a tremendous opportunity to start their own businesses and reap the rewards right here in North Iowa."

The estimated cost to build the Pappajohn Business Center is $1.4 million. The plans have been approved by the NIACC Board of Directors, and the College expects to break ground yet this fall.

John and Mary’s decision to name the new facility in honor of the Pappajohn family stems from their close ties to the College and to North Iowa. John and his brothers, Soc and Tel, were raised in Mason City, and both John and Tel graduated from Mason City Junior College (NIACC’s predecessor). John, who now lives in Des Moines and travels extensively as president of Equity Dynamics, Inc., returns to Clear Lake frequently. His brothers have raised their families in Mason City and are prominent businessmen in the community.

Second, the gift will support the continued operation and growth of NIACC’s John Pappajohn Business and Entrepreneurial Center, designed to spark new business development and support new business ventures locally and across the state. The NIACC Pappajohn Center was made possible by a half million dollar gift from John and Mary Pappajohn three years ago.

During the first Iowa Venture Capital Conference in Des Moines yesterday, John announced his continued support of the Pappajohn Centers at NIACC and the three state universities.

The gifts are seen as a vote of confidence in what the Centers are accomplishing across Iowa. In a recent survey of North Iowans completing the "FastTrac 1-New Venture" training for aspiring entrepreneurs, over 40 percent of respondents had launched a new local business within one year. NIACC FastTrac graduates, including "FastTrac 2-Planning" alumni, now number over 240 from some 40 communities.

In addition, the NIACC Pappajohn Center has worked closely with the University of Iowa Pappajohn Center and the state’s community colleges to provide entrepreneurship training across Iowa via the Iowa Entrepreneurial Consortium. Over 1,000 Iowans from all corners of the state have received FastTrac training, resulting in dozens of new business starts statewide.

During its three-year history, the NIACC Pappajohn Center has also hosted summer entrepreneurship camps for high school students, awarded numerous Pappajohn Seed Capital Grants and Entrepreneurial Scholarships, offered e-commerce workshops, and developed four entrepreneurial college credit courses, one of which is already available online.

"NIACC has worked hard to become an important resource for the region," said Dr. David Buettner, NIACC President. "We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of people like John and Mary Pappajohn who help the College accomplish its ambitious agenda."

Dr. Michael Morrison (retired 2008), Vice President for Academic Affairs at NIACC, said the gift’s significance goes beyond dollars. "NIACC earns its academic reputation every day in the classroom," he said, "but the Pappajohn gift further legitimizes the academic standing and overall reputation of the College among its many constituents."

The $1.1 million donation lifts the Keeping NIACC First Campaign over the $5 million goal. The major gifts campaign will continue until after the first of the year, however, in an attempt to reach the individual goals set for each of the key initiatives.

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