Tri-C Board of Trustees Approves Bond Issue Request

November ballot issue asks community to make investment in facilities

The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) Board of Trustees voted today to place a 0.5-mill bond issue on the Nov. 7 ballot for the repair, improvement and construction of facilities vital for college completion and workforce education.

The bond issue levy would raise funding for the College to address decades of wear and tear on buildings; keep pace with rapidly changing technology; and create new instructional space for growing programs.

Collection of the bond issue would begin in 2018 and run 25 years. The request asks Cuyahoga County property owners for an additional investment of less than $1.50 per month on a $100,000 home.

The issue would generate $227 million for investment across all Tri-C campuses. It would provide the resources needed to keep Tri-C students well prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.

“Tri-C must be able to expand and improve the programs and facilities needed to compete in the economy of today and tomorrow,” Tri-C President Alex Johnson said. “Our students’ success, and the success of the employers who hire them, depend on Tri-C being up-to-date.”

The bond issue would fund high-priority construction projects and a significant portion of outstanding infrastructure maintenance. Planned projects include:
• Renovations and equipment updates to labs used across the College by health care, manufacturing, information technology and other in-demand workforce programs.
• An addition at Western Campus in Parma dedicated to programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math.
• An addition to the Advanced Technology Training Center at Metropolitan Campus in Cleveland to create flexible lab space for engineering and manufacturing.
• Construction of a second building for classrooms, student space and faculty at Westshore Campus in Westlake.
• Creation of a Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Academy in Euclid with classroom and training space.
• Repair and replacement of old roofs, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and security systems across the College.

These projects and others would meet Tri-C’s foreseeable capital requirements and reduce the need to divert educational dollars for repairs, maintenance and equipment purchases.

“With local support and hard work, Tri-C has been able to offer affordable, high-quality, life-changing education and training for more than 50 years,” said Victor Ruiz, chair of Tri-C’s Board of Trustees. “This bond issue will protect the public’s investment in this vital community asset.”

June 29, 2017

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.com