North Idaho College’s Ponderay Outreach Center relocated to Sandpoint after being recruited by an urban renewal agency to promote business vitality through education and tourism.
The Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency (SURA) aided NIC with a grant of $40,000 a year, for four years of the relocation costs of moving the college from Bonner Mall in Ponderay to the Sandpoint Event Center at 102 S. Euclid Street in Sandpoint.
NIC President Priscilla Bell signed a five-year lease on May 3, 2012 making the move possible.
Bell, along with Vice President of Resource Management Ron Dorn and SURA Chairman Eric Paull, signed a memorandum of understanding at the beginning of summer outlining the organizations’ responsibilities.
“There was a space need,” said Mary Gustafik, coordinator for eLearning and Outreach at NIC in Sandpoint. “We were growing and needed more space for the students and faculty and staff.”
The Sandpoint Events Center offers a 40 percent increase in space and is willing to lease out more space should the expansion plans of the college call for it. In addition, the facility also presents itself with a theater, gymnasium, and commercial kitchen, improving the work environment for the educators.
The Sandpoint Event Center has provided NIC with an ideal atmosphere for educational growth through its close proximity to the city’s hub. This has created several opportunities for the center by exposing them to the local community and many of the fine arts programs.
“I felt the move was a gift and opportunity for Sandpoint,” said Mary Gustafik. “Most, if not all, of our students are non-traditional, meaning they already have families and jobs—students say that what they most appreciate is not having to travel.”
The college, now recognized as NIC at Sandpoint, is already open for this fall semester this year and is offering degrees in Associate’s of Science for general studies and classes for Practical Nursing every other year.
