PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM DONATES GIFT TO LAKE AREA TECHNICAL College
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: LuAnn Strait straitl@lakeareatech.edu
October 5, 2017 WATERTOWN, SD The Lake Area Technical College Foundation is honored and excited to announce receipt of a $3.1M gift from Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. The PLHS donation not only officially kicks-off the Lake Area Technical College Foundation Capital Campaign but also is the first-ever donation for naming rights of a campus building.
The Prairie Lakes Healthcare Center of Learning will house all current and future Lake Area Technical College healthcare programs and labs. Construction of the healthcare building is part of a larger overall campus plan to accommodate a growing LATI community where space has become limited. The Prairie Lakes Healthcare Center of Learning construction is anticipated to begin in 2019 and will be located at the north end of the campus and connected to an already existing building.
“Lake Area Technical College, and this community, are blessed to have a partner such as Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.” comments Lake Area Technical College President Mike Cartney. “We had a need and they recognized it. Together, we will be a force in providing a highly-trained healthcare workforce in this region.”
The donation will be the first of its kind in naming a building at Lake Area Technical College. To receive naming rights, the donor must provide at least 51% of the cost of construction. PLHS stepped up as they saw the opportunity to invest in the future healthcare workforce. Jill Fuller, CEO of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System states, “The projected shortages of healthcare professionals is a real concern. Our support of LATI’s healthcare education programs is a win for our community and other regional healthcare providers.”
The Lake Area Technical College Capital Campaign will vastly transform the campus with additional space to hold a growing student body. Lake Area Technical College is currently at an all-time high enrollment of 2500 students which was the projected enrollment for the year 2040. With the growing national recognition of Lake Area Technical College and shortage of a highly-skilled workforce, the campus growth has been phenomenal over the years but closely monitored as to not overcrowd. Lake Area Technical College has reached the critical point of needing to add additional space. The Capital Campaign will assist in those funding efforts to build the campus with additional space and retrofit existing in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare, business, computers, transportation and aviation.
