Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in the college’s Administration Center, for its regular board meeting.
Wayne Pantini reported to the board on the 260E bond trac program. The report included updates on SWCC’s 260E Industrial New Jobs Training programs underway in the college’s region, including training with White River Nutrition, Weaver Meats, Red Oak Fabrication, Wellman Dynamics, Excel Engineering, Parker Hannifin, CM Bulk Fluid, and Altec Industries. According to Pantini, 629 new jobs have been created in the college’s region due to these partnerships. He said the statewide program has been in place since 1983.
Kim Bishop, SWCC’s dean of students, gave the fall 2026 enrollment report. Bishop said the college is down 11 students from fall 2025, but up 106 credit hours from last year. Enrollment is the third-highest it has been in the past seven years for headcount and the highest it’s been during the same time period for total credit hours.
Pantini updated the board on construction projects underway on campus, including the construction of a skilled trades facility. He said the project continues to be on schedule, with a roofing crew now working on the building and the contractor completing interior electrical work. He said pavement work on the parking lot areas will be next.
Pantini said the SWCC maintenance team filled the median at the main college entrance with dirt, and a request for proposals will go out soon for landscaping work.
Jamie David, SWCC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) regional director, spoke to the board about the SBDC program. During 2025, South Central Iowa SBDC counseled 204 clients, created 72 jobs, and assisted with 11 new business starts.
Sue Stearns, SWCC board member and Community Colleges for Iowa representative, told the board the Des Moines building was recently vandalized, so the statewide group will add additional security measures. She spoke about a data playbook being used by the group, and said a new committee was being formed to review dual enrollment.
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