Tuesday and again early next month local residents are invited to take a look at Delta College’s proposed new facility in downtown Saginaw. Meetings are scheduled in the Morley Conference Room of the Castle Museum, 500 Federal Avenue to answer questions September 26th from 7 to 9 pm and again on October 9^th from 4 to 5 pm. Saginaw Mayor Jerry Browning says Delta is just one more among many positive additions to the area. Browning says, “it’s one more piece of the puzzle to come together to create a brand new Saginaw. This is a new exciting time for Saginaw and Delta really plays a big part of that by investing in the community here. We’re looking forward to that.”

Browning says there have already been additions to housing and the local business community as well. He says there are new restaurants and the addition of the downtown farmers market has helped draw more people into downtown. Delta’s new facility will help draw not only local residents, but he’s hoping to see it bring more young people into the area.

Delta President Dr. Jean Goodnow says there are about 20,000 residents in Saginaw who have only a high school diploma or GED, and the satellite campus will help them get access to higher education. Goodnow spoke on Friday to Delta staff and faculty, saying the new Saginaw Center will be an outreach facility where students will have the chance to either finish a degree or certificate program, or to further their education. Goodnow says she expects groundbreaking to be in March of 2018 and construction to last until May of 2019. She says classes will be moved to the new Saginaw campus from the Ricker Center in August of 2019. Browning says he’s looking forward to seeing the new Saginaw Center as part of the revitalized downtown.