Pictured (L-R): Del Stevens, DLR Group; Megan Ellsworth, Director of Industry and Technology at DMACC; Joe Pugel, DMACC Board Chair; Steve Van Oort, Polk County Supervisor; Dennis Albaugh, DMACC alumnus and Agribusiness executive; Rob Denson, DMACC President; Dr. Jenny Foster, Executive Academic Dean of Industry and Technology at DMACC; and Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development Executive Director.
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) celebrated the groundbreaking of a $9 million Transportation Institute on Tuesday in north Des Moines. The event commemorated the project’s launch, attended by DMACC President Rob Denson, alum Dennis Albaugh, public officials, and private sector executives. The project involves two phases, beginning with the construction of an 8,600-square-foot building, including classrooms, a three-story inspection bay, and student study spaces. Additionally, the current 12-acre training course, where students practice driving techniques, will be overhauled. The second phase entails demolishing the existing 35-year-old Transportation Institute facility. Denson says, “This is an important initiative for DMACC as we continue to provide educated and work-ready graduates for Iowa’s workforce. Iowa’s trucking and manufacturing industry leaders continue to tell us they need more well-trained truck drivers, and this facility will help us meet that growing demand.” The new facility aims to double the program’s capacity, significantly boosting enrollment and addressing the increasing need for trained truck drivers. Contributions from various entities, including a $1 million state grant, a $1 million gift from Dennis Albaugh, and a $500,000 donation from the Kent Corporation, among others, facilitated the project’s realization. The DMACC Transportation Institute was launched in 1988 and grew to become one of the largest programs in the Midwest. It offers a three-week course that combines online classes with hands-on driving courses, including Iowa Department of Transportation testing for successful trainees. For more information, visit dmacc.edu/truckdrivingschools.