The Walton Family Foundation has donated $2 million to Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville to help fund the construction of the college’s Springdale campus.
The college, through its NWA Ripple Effect, is trying to raise $15 million for the 50,000-SF campus for education and workforce training. NWACC officials hope construction will begin in late 2017. NWACC has raised $3.6 million including Monday’s donation from the Walton Family Foundation.
The campus will go on 20 acres west of Arvest Ballpark that the college bought from Philip Taldo in October 2014. Officials estimate the campus will have 2,000 students for both credit and noncredit courses.
"We are so grateful to the Walton Family Foundation for the value they place on expanding educational and empowerment opportunities for the region," NWACC President Evelyn E. Jorgenson said. "The college’s campaign mirrors those same values of increasing the economic prosperity of the region through education and training for all those with a desire to learn."