We were happy to see the finished product of the Raiders Cove project at Fulton-Montgomery Community College last week.
This was a creative and adaptive use of space that was going to waste. Turning the area into a recreational place for students holds water – unlike the former pool there did. The pool closed in 2008.
We appreciate how the college paid for the $1.7 million project. A vigorous fundraising effort and additional funds provided by the Fulmont College Association and FM Foundation were welcome gifts not only to the college, but the whole community.
It’s important for FMCC to continue to grow and offer cutting-edge programming. This helps the region thrive.
FMCC has grown substantially as it doubled its housing capacity and introduced new equipment and classes geared toward electrical technology and other lucrative and growing career fields.
Taxpayer dollars contributed to these improvements, but they were worthwhile investments.
For the fifth consecutive year in 2012, the college did not request an increase in financial support from Fulton and Montgomery counties.
Over the same timeframe, the college campus has improved significantly with a new cafe area near the Evans Library known as Books and Bytes and an updated cafeteria with new stations.
Other gathering spaces open during class time include an area outside the college theater, a lounge in the classroom area and a lounge in the basement of the college union building. Raiders Cove gives FMCC more of a residential campus feel.
As FMCC grows, the college will attract more people to the area.
The new Raiders Cove will host its first community event during the Business After Hours held by the Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.
