The store at 2400 to 2510 E. Jackson St. has remained empty since closing about a half-dozen years ago. The Macomb Area Economic Development Corp. had been marketing the facility.

Anna R. Buehrer, the college's director of marketing communications, said the 81,000-square-foot building includes the former furniture store as well as an add-on building that includes two tenants. The college plans to purchase the entire 7.75-acre property, Buehrer said, and the current owner has to work out a deal with the tenants.

The college, which currently houses its Macomb Campus at the former Macomb High School at 208 S. Johnson St., could eventually move all its Macomb operations to the new site, Buehrer said.

"It would be ideal to be all in one space," she said Thursday night, adding that the store site offers "plenty of parking," which is at a premium at the current campus.

Buehrer said that the college would renovate and expand the Heilig-Meyer building once it owns it. A needs and facilities assessment will be conducted to determine the best use for the store site and fund-raising would be done in conjunction with the site's development.

The school is funding the purchase with $2 million in general obligation community college bonds; the additional amount over the purchase cost will be used for facility needs at the Rushville and Havana campuses.

The current Macomb Campus offers career and vocational training, and the new building would allow the college to look at offering additional career training, Buehrer said.

While the current campus has received key renovations over the past several years, enrollment growth and limited classroom space prompted the trustees to pursue expansion plans in the city.

"We will be working closely with community and business leaders, as well as the citizens of Macomb to clearly identify education and training needs so we can develop the appropriate plans for the future renovation of the building," Dave Maguire, chair of the college's trustees, said. "The Spoon River College Foundation Board and its Macomb Advisory Committee will play an integral part in the development of the funding for the renovation."

Fall enrollment at the Macomb Campus has increased almost 13 percent over the past five years and the number of credit hours taken by students also has increased by 17.5 percent. The college offers associate degrees for transfer, as well as career programs in administrative office technology, computer information systems and nursing.

source: www.macombjournal.com