90,000 square-foot facility will expand first responder education and training opportunities as part of MCC long-term investment in Sarpy County

Metropolitan Community College and Nebraska Philanthropic Trust are marking the groundbreaking of Metropolitan Community College’s First Responder Education and Training Center at the College’s new Sarpy County Campus.

The approximately 90,000-square-foot facility represents a significant step in the development of the College’s fourth full-service campus and will establish a regional destination for first responder education, workforce training and collaboration.

Located at the southeast corner of Highways 50 and 370, the Center will bring together the College’s Fire Science Technology, Emergency Medical Services and Criminal Justice programs. The facility will also create new opportunities for first responder agencies and professionals to train alongside one another, strengthening the pipeline into critical public safety careers and enhancing coordination among the people and organizations communities rely on during emergencies.

“Emergencies don’t happen within the boundaries of a single profession, department or community,” said MCC President Randy Schmailzl. “The opportunity here is to create a place where students can prepare for meaningful careers while experienced professionals and agencies train together in ways that reflect what happens in the real world. When people have practiced working together before an emergency occurs, they are better prepared to work together when their communities need them most.”

The Center will feature a two-story academic and training facility, tactical training warehouse, advanced EMS and fire simulation labs, technical rescue training environments, virtual reality skills labs and flexible spaces for regional collaboration and in-service training. Together, these environments will support classroom learning, hands-on instruction, scenario-based exercises and multidisciplinary training.

The groundbreaking also marks another milestone in the College’s long-term vision for its 144-acre Sarpy County Campus. The first full-service MCC campus in more than 40 years is being developed to expand access to education in Nebraska’s fastest-growing county while responding to the region’s evolving workforce needs. The broader campus is envisioned as a hub for learning, innovation and community life, with future development potentially incorporating additional academic facilities, housing, dining, retail and greenspace.

The campus vision grew out of the College’s long-range facilities planning, which identified opportunities to bring related academic disciplines together to strengthen collaboration and enhance the student experience. The First Responder Education and Training Center reflects that approach by creating a shared training environment where students preparing for different public safety careers can learn alongside one another and experienced professionals.

The project responds to an ongoing workforce need for skilled firefighters, emergency medical professionals and other first responders throughout Nebraska and western Iowa. In addition to preparing students to enter these careers, the Center will provide opportunities for existing professionals and agencies to strengthen their skills, practice coordinated emergency responses and enhance regional preparedness.

Patrick Morris, President of Nebraska Philanthropic Trust, MCC’s development partner for the project, said the Center reflects a shared commitment among MCC, first responder agencies and the philanthropic community whose generosity has made the project possible.

“This project is becoming a reality because of the extraordinary generosity of donors who believe in the people who step forward to serve their communities,” Morris said. “Their investment will help create more pathways into these important careers, provide exceptional education and hands-on training, and give first responder agencies a place to train and prepare together. The impact will extend well beyond the campus, serving students and training partners from communities across Nebraska, including western Nebraska, as well as western Iowa.”

The MCC Fire Science Technology program — the only college-based fire science training program in Nebraska — combines classroom instruction with practical training led by experienced fire service professionals. Its Emergency Medical Services program prepares students through EMT and Paramedic pathways, including certificate and associate degree options. The College’s Criminal Justice program provides students with a foundation for careers and continued education across the criminal justice field.

Together, these academic programs will anchor a broader, community-based approach to emergency response education and training. The Center is being designed to accommodate training partnerships with fire departments, EMS providers, law enforcement agencies and other regional partners, creating opportunities for students and working professionals to learn from one another and practice coordinated responses in realistic environments.

Development of the larger Sarpy County Campus will occur in phases, guided by strategic partnerships and community needs. MCC envisions the campus as a long-term investment in educational access, workforce development and economic opportunity for Sarpy County and the surrounding region.

With the First Responder Education and Training Center as a key component of that vision, MCC and its partners are working to strengthen the region’s public safety workforce while creating a lasting resource for the communities those professionals serve.

Visit mccneb.edu/Sarpy for more information about the Sarpy County Campus.