748Views
Ridgeland Campus acquires Fitness Lady, extra acreage Holmes Community College recently acquired the approximately 25,000-square-feet building that formerly housed Fitness Lady, as well as roughly four acres of prime I-55 Frontage Road access, to expand the territory of the Ridgeland Campus.
Located at 331 Sunny Brook Road, Fitness Lady was one of the largest women's health clubs in the nation, and once renovated, the state-of-the-art facility will provide much-needed space for multiple purposes. The building will provide a fitness and recreation center for students and employees from all campuses, space for offices, as well as a site for additional community outreach initiatives to benefit local citizens and students.
Future plans may include adding a hospitality management program in Ridgeland, and this expansion provides means to make that possible. The additional acreage will also allow for an increased presence for the college along the I-55 corridor.
"We are very pleased to be able to enhance the overall student experience at Holmes Community College," said Dr. Jim Haffey, president of Holmes. "Our college has been the fastest growing community college over the last 10 years, and the success of the Ridgeland Campus and Madison County has fueled that growth. We plan to use the facility to change the health and lives of thousands of students in the Holmes district.
"We are so appreciative of the support the community and our county leaders have provided to us the last several years. Holmes loves being part of this community, and we hope to continue to provide an outstanding and affordable college experience to our local citizens."
The project started approximately one year ago, and culminated with a signing and closing on Nov. 17. The acquisition was made financially possible by the Madison County Board of Supervisors in a recent vote to increase support to the college. Initial plans for the facility are for a student and staff fitness and activities center, as well as expansion of a program to serve the business needs of Madison County.
"We are excited to have such a significant expansion of the Ridgeland Campus of Holmes Community College," said Dr. Don Burnham, vice president of the Ridgeland Campus. "The student enrollment of this campus has grown by more than 30 percent over the last 10 years and to have a facility that allows our students and faculty to improve personal health is an incredible addition.
"We appreciate the support that community and county leaders have given to us that allows us to improve and expand our facilities in this manner. Our desire is that these facilities be used to educate and train the workforce in our county so that Madison County continues to experience an increasing standard of living for all of its citizens."
The building is set to open for Holmes students and employees to utilize as a fitness facility as early as spring of 2016.
IN THE PHOTO: Pictured is the approximately 25,000-square-feet fitness center recently purchased by Holmes Community College. The facility formerly housed Fitness Lady, and will reopen as a multipurpose facility to be used as a fitness center, office space, and the site for additional community course offerings in the future.
