HAMPTON, Iowa – North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) celebrated the opening of the NIACC Career Center – Franklin County with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 8.

The Franklin County Career Center is the result of a partnership between NIACC, Belmond-Klemme Community School District, Hampton-Dumont-CAL Community School District, and West Fork Community School District. Beginning this fall, the facility will provide area high school students with opportunities to earn college certificates and diplomas while remaining enrolled in high school. All coursework is offered at no cost to the students or families.

The ceremony featured remarks from Career Center Director Valeria Gonzalez, NIACC President Joel Pedersen, West Fork Community School District Superintendent Mike Kruger, NIACC Director of School Partnerships Brian Wogen, Franklin General Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kim Price, and Doug Foreshore of Bergland + Cram Architecture before concluding with an official ribbon cutting.

“The NIACC Career Center – Franklin County is a great example of what can happen when schools, business and industry, healthcare partners, and communities come together around a shared vision,” said NIACC President Joel Pedersen. “This center represents an exciting new chapter – not only because of the incredible partnerships that made it possible, but because it’s the first of our career centers to offer a two-year model, allowing students to graduate from high school with a NIACC diploma or credential already in hand. That’s an incredible opportunity for students, their families, local employers, and the communities we serve.” 

The Franklin County Career Center will offer career pathways in Health Careers, Construction, and Welding, giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while earning college credentials that prepare them for high-demand careers or continued education.

“The opening of the NIACC Career Center-Franklin County is the first step toward creating new opportunities for our high school students and the communities we serve,” said Valeria Gonzalez, Director of the NIACC Career Center-Franklin County. “We look forward to welcoming students this fall and inviting the public to tour the facility during our open house. We hope this becomes a place where students can explore careers, gain hands-on experience, and build the skills our local employers need.”

The public will have an opportunity to tour the new facility during an open house held in conjunction with the Franklin County Fair. The open house will be held Thursday, July 16, and Friday, July 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day at the Career Center, 1276 Olive Avenue in Hampton.

Visitors can tour the facility and learn more about the Health Careers, Construction, and Welding programs. The first 250 guests will also receive a ticket for free ice cream or sarsaparilla redeemable at the Franklin County Fair, along with NIACC swag.

For more information about the NIACC Career Center – Franklin County, visit https://www.niacc.edu/community/niacc-centers/niacc-career-center-franklin-county/

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