Construction crews are expected to break ground later this month on the first building at Metropolitan Community College's new Sarpy County campus, weather permitting, marking a milestone for a project that has been in the works since the college bought the land back in 2015. The structure going up first is a two-story, 90,000-square-foot First Responder Education and Training Center, designed to house MCC's fire science technology, emergency medical services and criminal justice programs under one roof.
According to Grow Omaha, the training center will be the first phase of what's described as MCC's fourth full-service campus and its first new full-service campus in more than 40 years. The facility is planned for a site southeast of Nebraska Highways 50 and 370 in Sarpy County, and construction firm Kiewit has already completed preliminary site work ahead of the building phase.
The Sarpy Campus itself spans 144 acres near the interchange of Highways 50 and 370, according to a Silicon Prairie News report from last year. That outlet notes MCC acquired the property back in 2015, and college officials have estimated that full buildout of the campus could take 15 to 20 years to complete.
What's Planned Inside the Training Center
Per Grow Omaha's reporting, the training center is being designed with virtual-reality skills labs, technical-rescue training environments, a tactical training warehouse, and advanced EMS and fire simulation labs. The building is meant to support classroom learning, hands-on instruction, scenario-based exercises and multidisciplinary training, along with flexible spaces for regional collaboration and in-service training.
The idea is to let MCC students train for careers in the same spaces where seasoned professionals sharpen their skills. The center is being designed to accommodate fire departments, EMS providers, law enforcement agencies and other regional training partners, giving working first responders a place to practice coordinated responses and improve regional preparedness alongside the next generation entering the field.
“The center will let students prepare for careers while experienced professionals and agencies train together for real-world emergencies,” said Randy Schmailzl, per the same account. MCC's long-range facilities planning identified opportunities to bring related academic disciplines together to strengthen collaboration and improve the student experience, and the training center is meant to put that idea into brick and mortar.
Programs Moving Into the New Facility
MCC's fire science technology program is described as the only college-based fire science training program in Nebraska, combining classroom instruction with practical training led by experienced fire service professionals. The emergency medical services program prepares students through EMT and paramedic pathways, including both certificate and associate degree options, while the criminal justice program provides a foundation for careers and continued education in that field.
College leaders have framed the project as a response to ongoing demand for skilled firefighters, emergency medical professionals and other first responders across Nebraska and western Iowa. A statement attributed to the college's press release said the facility will strengthen public safety career pathways and coordination among emergency-response organizations.
“Donor generosity is making the project possible and its impact will reach communities across Nebraska and western Iowa,” said Patrick Morris. The Nebraska Philanthropic Trust is serving as MCC's development partner for the project, the college says.
A Long-Term Vision for the Campus
MCC describes the Sarpy Campus as being developed to expand access to education in what it calls Nebraska's fastest-growing county. Beyond the training center, the college's long-range plans point to additional academic facilities, along with housing, dining, retail and greenspace down the road — though those remain future possibilities rather than committed projects at this stage.
For now, the focus is on getting the first responder training center out of the ground. With site work already finished and construction slated to start later this month, the project represents the first tangible step in what MCC and its backers see as a multi-decade build-out in Sarpy County.
