Ripon College Awarded Low Interest Loan from USDA Rural Development for Athletics, Health and Wellness Facilities
Ripon College announced today that it is the recipient of a $14,300,000, fixed-rate low interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development division to help finance the cost of renovating and expanding the J.M. Storzer Athletics, Health and Wellness Center.
The funds, provided through the Community Facilities Direct Loan program, are designed to develop essential community facilities and foster economic growth and development in rural communities across the country. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-6), Ripon Mayor Gary Will and area schools and businesses such as Agnesian Healthcare wrote letters of support during the USDA application process for the upgraded health and wellness facilities and Ripon College’s efforts to continue its role as an economic driver to the region.
“This collaborative project seeks to promote public access to community wellness facilities and spur investment in Ripon and the surrounding rural communities,” said Stan Gruszynski, USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director. “The J.M. Storzer Center renovation and expansion represents a true College-community partnership, and we are proud to be part of it.”
“Securing public financing from USDA is a critical step in our efforts to move ahead with this important project for our campus and the surrounding community,” said Zach Messitte, president of Ripon College. “We are now in the process of working with alumni and friends of the College on leadership gifts that will help us reach our goal of opening the new facility by the fall of 2017.”
The J.M. Storzer Center project, estimated at between $18-$22 million, will be financed using a mix of public and private loans and philanthropy.
Once completed, the upgraded facilities will provide state-of-the-art training spaces, including but not limited to: an indoor fieldhouse with an NCAA regulation track and performance courts, integrated cardio and weight training space, flexible studio spaces, modern classrooms and meeting/event spaces, study and meditative areas, a health food cafe and the first true student center on lower campus.
Related Posts
Hopp Stadium to open Sept. 30; Franzen Science Center construction begins
Ripon College’s new Hopp Stadium is scheduled to host its first competition Sept. 30 when the Red Hawks football team will host Cornell College. The […]
Madigan named Midwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Year
RIPON, Wisconsin – Another major accolade has been awarded to Cormac Madigan, Ripon College Class of 2023, to add to his lengthy collegiate resume. Monday, […]
Ripon High School Spanish teacher will receive Ripon College’s Distinguished Educator Award
Marta Ruiz Yedinak, a Spanish teacher at Ripon High School, will be presented with Ripon College’s Distinguished Educator Award at the 2023 Commencement ceremony May […]
Support for the College comes in strongly during Ripon Rally Days giving experience
Ripon Rally Days, a spring online giving experience, was held April 20-23 during Inauguration Week. Donors could choose from 14 ways to support Ripon College […]