Governor Quinn Announces Investment for New Early Childhood Education Center at SWIC

BELLEVILLE - Governor Pat Quinn today announced an investment to build an Early Childhood Education Center at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC). The announcement was made as the Governor was joined by school and local officials to dedicate SWIC's new Veterans and Career Services Center, and to celebrate the prestigious LEED Gold certification for the college's Liberal Arts Complex. Today's event is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to give every child the opportunity for a high-quality education and to honor and support the men and women who have served our nation.

"There's nothing more important than an investment in our children's education, and this new center will increase badly needed services for Metro East families," Governor Quinn said. "Study after study has shown that high-quality early childhood education provides the highest return of any investment we can make - more than $7 for every dollar invested. I am also pleased to join SWIC in dedicating a new facility to serve our men and women who have borne the battle for our nation. Their service means that all citizens, including the children who will attend this Early Childhood Education Center, can continue to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities of our great nation."

The 16,000-square-foot, one-story building will be designed specifically for the care and development of children as well as an educational space for SWIC Early Childhood Education students. It will contain multiple children's classrooms, a motor skills area, a multi-purpose room, observation room and an isolation room for sick children, as well as office space, storage and separate adult and child restrooms. The $6.1 million investment comes through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and is part of Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! Capital construction program.

"This news could not have come at a better time. In an era when students are juggling classes, work and family, reliable child care is crucial to the learning environment," SWIC President Georgia Costello said. "The Child Development Center will be designed as a safe, nurturing atmosphere that meets the unique needs of growing children and the educational needs of our Early Childhood Education students."

Governor Quinn today also helped dedicate SWIC's new Veterans and Career Services Center, a facility that makes SWIC the only community college in the state with combined veterans and career services in one location. Providing career services to veterans is a critical part of transitioning them from academia into careers. SWIC serves the largest population of active duty military and veteran students of any public college or university in Illinois, approximately 1,800 veterans and 900 dependents. The new Veterans and Career Services Center is home to SWIC's VetSuccess On Campus counselor and a variety of other services for veterans. They are one of only 94 VetSuccess On Campus institutions in the nation.

Today's dedication included a memorial salute to former SWIC student and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Edwin Dazachacon, who was killed February 13, 2006 while serving in Afghanistan. Dazachacon is among the Illinois service members memorialized in the "Portrait of a Soldier" exhibit on display at the Veterans and Career Services Center through November 17. The exhibit, established in 2004 by Governor Quinn and created by artist Cameron Schilling, features a series of hand-drawn portraits of nearly all of the 326 Illinois men and women who have died while serving our country since September 11, 2001.

Governor Quinn today also joined the campus in celebrating the LEED Gold certification for the school's new Liberal Arts Complex, making it the first higher education facility in the region to achieve this prestigious designation that reflects its energy efficient and environmentally-friendly design. The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the college Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status for the complex, the second highest designation awarded by the council.

"Earning LEED Gold for this building project represents a milestone in the green development of our college campus," SWIC President Georgia Costello said. "This demonstrates our commitment to the environment and to the community through sustainable practices and energy efficiency."

Certification of the complex construction project was based on the environmentally friendly design of the building and construction features that include:

• Nearly 75 percent of the construction-related waste was recycled and diverted from area landfills.
• Energy consumption is expected to be about 20 percent more efficient than a typical building due to high-performance glazing, insulation, lighting controls, and occupancy sensors that moderate temperatures and ventilation.
• White roofs reduce the heat from the sun and lower the energy needed to cool the building.
• Landscaping incorporates native plants and requires no irrigation once established.
• Low-flow fixtures in the restrooms reduce water usage.
• All paints, carpeting and wood products have lower emission levels meeting green construction standards.

The $19.1 million investment for the Liberal Arts Complex came through DCEO. In addition to space for all English, Reading, Speech, Literature, Foreign Language, Philosophy, Film Studies and Mass Communications classes and faculty, the Liberal Arts Center is home to the Success Center, Testing Center, Starbucks coffee shop, the Kamm Student Lounge and a 5,400-square-foot covered terrace. The 320-space parking lot also includes charging stations for electric cars.