NCC Buys Former Marcus Hotel for New Regional Career Academy

Northwest Iowa Community College has taken a major step toward bringing a new Regional Center and Career Academy to Marcus. 

The Sheldon college has officially purchased the building that will become the center’s future home—the former Hometown Guesthouse hotel along Highway 3 on the south side of the Cherokee County community.

College leaders say securing the property allows NCC to move from concept to construction. Planning, design work, and a full renovation of the former hotel will begin this year to convert the space into classrooms, labs, and hands-on training areas.

The Marcus Regional Center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. When it does, it will offer high‑demand career pathways in education, welding, healthcare, and design technology. Students will be able to earn industry‑recognized credentials—including CNA certification, OSHA‑10 Safety, and CPR/First Aid—while gaining practical experience in learning environments designed to mirror real workplaces.

NCC says the project is supported in part by a $1 million Career Academy Incentive Fund grant from the State of Iowa. 

College officials describe the Marcus center as a shared investment among state and local leaders, NCC, and partnering school districts to strengthen rural workforce pipelines and expand access to career‑connected learning.

Regional centers like the one planned for Marcus are designed to bring college‑level opportunities closer to rural students, reducing travel barriers and lowering the overall cost of higher education. NCC notes that families can save up to $8,000 in tuition when students begin college coursework while still in high school.

The Marcus center will serve students from MMCRU, South O’Brien, Kingsley‑Pierson, and River Valley, and NCC says additional school partnerships are welcome as the model grows. The project builds on the success of NCC’s Sheldon Career Academy and the Sioux Center Regional Center, which is nearing completion and already serving more than 600 dual‑enrolled high school students, adult learners, and workforce trainees.

NCC President Dr. John Hartog says the effort is about expanding opportunity across rural northwest Iowa. He says distance is a reality for many families in the region, but access to hands-on, career‑focused education can change a student’s trajectory. Hartog also emphasized that the work is long‑term, and NCC is committed to serving the region for years to come.

Renovation and planning work will continue through 2026, with NCC collaborating closely with school districts, community leaders, and industry partners to prepare for the 2027 launch. 

Over time, the Marcus Regional Center is expected to grow into a hub for learning, workforce development, and employer training—supporting both high school students and local businesses looking to upskill their workforce close to home.