Expanded John Deere Facility Dedicated on SCC Milford Campus

With a 270-horsepower 8270R John Deere tractor and a 310K John Deere backhoe loader as the backdrop, Southeast Community College (www.southeast.edu) dedicated the new 20,000 square-foot expansion to its John Deere facility on the Milford Campus. The dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in the new space on November 5th.

Expansion discussions began two years ago to address the demand for more technicians. Construction resulted in doubling the square footage of space utilized by the John Deere Tech and Deere Construction & Forestry Equipment Tech programs. Special features of the new space include touchscreen technology in the classrooms, a geo-thermal field for heating and cooling, LED lighting, and fortified restrooms that can serve as a storm shelter.

The expansion gives SCC the capacity to enroll 140 John Deere Tech students and 40 Deere Construction & Forestry Equipment Tech students at one time. Students in each program are required to have a sponsoring dealer, and students continue their employment with the dealership after graduation.

Three John Deere representatives attended the ceremony. Tien Macdonald, training manager based in Canada; Deven Wilson, program manager for John Deere’s Construction & Forestry Tech Program attending from Davenport, Iowa; and Joe Plymale, manager of John Deere’s College Partnership Program in Dallas, all spoke highly of the new space.

To learn more about Southeast Community College visit www.southeast.edu.

From left: SCC Board member Lynn Schluckebier, John Deere Training Manager Tien Macdonald, SCC Transportation and Manufacturing Division Dean Glen Williams, SCC President Dr. Paul Illich, SCC Board chairperson Kathy Boellstorff, media producer for Deere’s Construction & Forestry Worldwide Training Center Deven Wilson, manager of John Deere’s College Partnership Program Joe Plymale, SCC Program Chair Bill Vocasek, and SCC Board member Steven Ottmann are set to cut the ribbon!