Madisonville Community College has reached a fifth of its goal towards a Murray State University Postsecondary Education building on campus.
This week, Baptist Health Madisonville donated more than $1.3 million toward the college's $5 million goal.
MCC President Judy Rhoads says the college has to raise 25% of the project’s overall cost before 2016 to access state agency bonds to build the $20 million facility.
Rhoads says the college already houses around 1,000 students enrolled per semester, but the new facility will be an asset for students.
“What we want is for Murray State to have an identity on our campus with a facility that shows our community and graduating seniors that we have a four-year college on our campus and that they can get as BS or Masters degree without ever leaving this region," said Rhoads.
Rhoads says the incoming I-69 development through Madisonville and its economic opportunities will create an increased need for 4-year degrees in the region.
The building will be adjacent to the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts.
Rhoads says the building should take about a year and half to complete when construction begins.
