South Central College Celebrates Nearly $10 Million in State-Funded Campus Infrastructure Improvements

Yesterday, South Central College celebrated two major infrastructure investments that will enhance year-round comfort, increase reliability and reduce future maintenance challenges at its North Mankato campus.

College leaders were joined by community, state and federal officials for a ceremonial groundbreaking marking the start of the installation phase of SCC’s chiller replacement project and to announce plans for a new campus boiler system. Together, the projects received nearly $10 million in state legislative funding, including $3 million for the chiller replacement and $6.9 million for the boiler replacement.

The funding was secured through asset preservation bills chief-authored by the legislators representing South Central College’s North Mankato campus, Nick Frentz and Erica Schwartz, with significant support from other area legislators whose districts are also served by South Central College.

“We’re grateful for the support of our legislators and the Minnesota State system in securing funding for these critical projects. This nearly $10 million investment reflects both the importance of South Central College to our region and the state’s commitment to supporting student success and workforce development,” said Ritu Raju, president of South Central College. “The projects that have the greatest impact are not always the ones people can see, but they are the ones that make everything else possible. These investments will strengthen our campus, reduce future maintenance challenges and create a better experience for everyone who learns, works and visits here.”

The chiller system currently serving the North Mankato campus was originally installed in 1987. Supported by $3 million in legislative funding received in 2025, the replacement project will provide a more reliable cooling system for the campus while helping address longstanding temperature fluctuations throughout the building. The project is planned for completion by spring 2027.

The boiler replacement project, which received $6.9 million in legislative funding in 2026, will address a system that dates back to 1968 and has exceeded its expected service life by nearly three decades. As the system has aged, maintenance and repair costs have steadily increased, while parts and specialized service expertise have become more difficult to obtain. Planning for the project is underway, with completion anticipated in fall 2028. South Central College serves thousands of students each year. During the most recent academic year, SCC enrolled 4,774 students and served approximately 12,000 additional individuals through its Customized Workforce Education division. The infrastructure improvements will help ensure the college can continue meeting the educational and workforce needs of the region well into the future.