Construction Set to Begin on Human Services Campus

Groundbreaking Ceremonies were held Wednesday, September 30, for the Human Services Campus of East Central Iowa. Over 100 people were on hand at the site of the new facility, on the block from 7th to 8th Avenue SE, between 3rd and 4th Streets in Cedar Rapids, to hear details of the project and recognize the major contributors who have already pledged nearly $13 million of support for the $15 million nonprofit center. Click here to view photos of the groundbreaking.

Thanks to a $10 million grant from the Culver/Judge I-JOBS program and the generosity of numerous local private donors, construction of the Human Services Campus of East Central Iowa will begin in late October or early November. Other major contributors to date include: The Hall Perrine Foundation; the Steve Dummermuth Family (who donated land for the facility); Rockwell Collins; the AEGON Transamerica Foundation; United Fire Group Foundation and the McIntyre Foundation; Paulson Electric and P.E.C. Communications; Li'l Drug Store Products; Diamond V Mills; Pat & Sandi Cobb; the Wesley & Irene Mansfield Charitable Trust; the McLeod Charitable Foundation; and The Gazette Foundation Donor Advised Fund.

“Upon completion the 65,000 square foot facility will house six to 10 local nonprofit organizations, a shared Business Services Center and be a tremendous new resource for our area, “said Human Services Campus Board member and former AEGON Executive Rex Eno, who also called this effort “a milestone project in Cedar Rapids’ flood recovery.”

Other speakers at the event included Jeff Pomeranz, chair of the I-JOBS Board, who spoke about the facility as one of the first projects funded by I-JOBS to begin construction in this area. General Ron Dardis, Executive Director of the Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO), was on hand to address their continued efforts related to flood recovery, both locally and around the state. Jack Evans, President of the Hall Perrine Foundation, spoke on behalf of the private investors and praised the way these contributors have stepped forward to make a significant impact for a project which shows the collaborative spirit which makes Cedar Rapids great.

Preparations have already begun on the site for the Human Services Campus and construction, which should take about 18 months, is slated to begin soon. The building design was completed by OPN Architects and construction will be directed by Rinderknecht Associates, with the involvement of several other local subcontractors.

At this time there are seven nonprofit tenants committed to, or close to signing agreements for the Human Services Campus, including: Abbe Inc., Abbe Oaks, Aging Services, Iowa Legal Aid, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, NTS and United Way of East Central Iowa.

Other project highlights:
- Management and oversight of the Human Services Campus will be handled by separate 501(c)(3) supporting organization
- The nonprofit agencies housed in this building employ approximately 130 employees and serve over 10,000 clients
- The project will create 30-40 onsite construction jobs and 15-20 offsite support jobs
- Co-location of multiple nonprofits contributes to collaboration and efficiency
- The facility’s conference and training rooms will be available for community use
- The Human Services Campus facility will feature a shared business services center
- Location conveniently accessible by car, bicycle, on foot or via public transportation
- Lower cost to nonprofits frees up resources for service delivery to clients
- Building construction will maximize day-lighting and fresh air circulation, use night-sky friendly exterior lighting & interior lighting controls, low-emitting building materials and incorporate LEED building principles
- Ground level parking under the building reduces overall building footprint

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