HAMPTON – NIACC recently broke ground on a brand new, $4 million regional career center in Hampton.
The event took place on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 1276 Olive Avenue, Hampton, Iowa (Adjacent to the Hampton Airport). This construction site is located on land donated by Franklin County Economic Development.
NIACC elaborated on the project:
“NIACC is proud to announce the launch of its newest regional career center, set to open for students in Fall 2026. Henkel Construction has been awarded the contract for this $4 million project, which will be funded in part by a $3 million grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration. The center aims to expand college access for students in Region 2 – especially from the Belmond-Klemme, Hampton-Dumont, and West Fork school districts – offering them the opportunity to participate in high-demand career academies in health, advanced manufacturing, and (for the first time) business. These programs will help students earn college credits and valuable skills at no cost, while preparing them to meet the workforce needs of the region. This new site will include a center director, three teachers, and will serve as the new home for Franklin County Economic Development. Once completed, every student in Region 2 will be within 30 minutes of a career center or NIACC’s main campus.”
Back in August of 2024, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, to expand workforce training in key industries.
This grant will construct the new continuing education training center in Franklin County to strengthen the regional workforce in the healthcare, construction, and manufacturing industries. This EDA investment will be matched with $753,296 in local funds and is expected to create or retain 105 jobs and generate $12 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
“To out-build, out-compete, and out-innovate the rest of the world, we need a strong, resilient workforce. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration has made investing in our workforce a cornerstone of the Investing in America Agenda,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This EDA grant will expand access to training opportunities in Iowa to help strengthen the regional workforce in health care, construction, and manufacturing, and connect workers to good-paying jobs with local employers.”
“The U.S. Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support place based economic growth,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project will prepare high school students and community members for good-paying jobs in high-demand industries, supporting a strong regional economy.”
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG). EDA funds NIACOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.
This career center will be the third of its kind in North Central Iowa. Classes began at the new NIACC Career Center—Charles City in fall of 2024. The John V. Hanson Career Center in Forest City opened in 2021.