A $5.2 million renovation project should produce oohs and aahs from people, and that is exactly what happened at the Oct. 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly completed addition at Jefferson College’s Arnold campus.
Elected officials and emergency response agency leaders joined college officials, faculty and students for the afternoon festivities to show off the renovations that added a third floor to the building, which will house the college’s Law Enforcement Academy and EMT-paramedic programs.
“I think it’s amazing how we are able to train future public service professionals in state-of-the-art spaces,” college President Dena McCaffrey said.
The project also included the expansion and renovation of biology labs at the Arnold campus at 1687 Missouri State Road.
“Another of our fast-growing programs at the college is associate of science and biology, and the renovations increase the number of science labs at the Arnold campus from three to five to meet the demand,” McCaffrey said.
She said the 5,500-square-foot addition brings the building’s total size to 52,000 square feet.
The college used several sources of revenue to pay for the renovations, including $3.6 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, $750,000 from the Jefferson County Council and $800,000 in bond funds provided by the college. The Jefferson Foundation also awarded the college a $110,000 grant for an ambulance simulator.
“What a wonderful facility,” said Margie Passmore, president of the college’s Board of Trustees, who was at the open house. “It not only will serve our needs, but will allow for growth in our law enforcement and EMS programs for first responders. It’s a beautiful facility and a great location.”
The EMT/paramedic programs moved into the Arnold campus in May, with the Law Enforcement Academy making the move at the beginning of September. Those programs previously were based at the college’s old Imperial campus, which is now idle while college officials decide what to do with it.
Mike Toombs, the Law Enforcement Academy director, said he appreciates the new space.
“I love it,” Toombs said. “It’s a new facility. It’s going to give us an exciting outlook.”
The director of the Arnold campus, Joe Haack, who also oversees the college’s EMT/paramedic programs, gave the renovations a big thumbs-up.
“I thinks it’s very impressive and is much more fitting for our needs,” he said.
Another guest, state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, spoke about the importance of having appropriate facilities for training first responders, particularly police.
“This is wonderful not just for Jefferson County, but for the entire region, supporting law enforcement training when there’s such a big need,” she said.
State Rep. Phil Amato, R-Arnold, said Jefferson Countians have long asked for projects like the Arnold campus renovations project.
“This is what all the people back in the day dreamed about, being self-sufficient and providing education, medical and library services ourselves,” he said. “This is absolutely wonderful.”
Students currently enrolled in the Law Enforcement Academy and the EMT/paramedic programs said there is a night-and-day difference between their new digs and their old ones at Imperial.
“We moved here in May, so we’ve been here about five months,” said Katie Gugliano, 24, of Arnold, a paramedic student. “There’s just so much more room for training and newer equipment. Absolutely, it’s a better learning experience.”
Gugliano was among those who spoke prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, drawing laughter from the crowd when she said the new facility smelled much better than the Imperial campus.
Robert Blaylock, 42, of St. Louis, a Law Enforcement Academy student, also said he enjoys going to classes more since the move.
“It’s fabulous,” Blaylock said. “It’s a big improvement over Imperial.”