Morningside College launches biggest fundraiser yet - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

You've heard it takes a village to raise a child.  But if you're Morningside College, it takes $50-million to build a village, that is, an academic village.

Morningside College has launched its biggest fundraising project ever on Thursday.  The school plans to use $18-million to pay for construction of a new classroom building, and academic center.  As part of the project, the library will also get a major facelift.

"It's the renovation of our library, but most excitingly I think the building of a new academic complex, about 35,000 square feet that will house our nursing department, our education department, and give us space to create a new ag industry program," John Reynders, President of Morningside College said.

The college also plans to invest $13-million in its endowment and put $19-million toward its scholarship fund.

Jim Walker is the chairman of the fundraising committee, and a Morningside graduate.  He says the project is expected to add jobs, and add long-term economic growth.

"Something that is often discounted is that all these students that are on our campus spend money in the stores and shops around the city everyday, but this $50-million that is coming in here will create economic activity and that's positive for the Greater Siouxland area," Jim Walker said.

The fundraising is expected to end in 2019, but the school is hoping to begin construction by next year if they can raise enough money.