The Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund (NACFF) has added its support to the Northeast Community College iHub project in downtown Norfolk with a total pledge of $25,000 to the project over the next five years.
The vision of NACFF is to shape the future by helping create and sustain innovative projects, services, and opportunities that enhance the Norfolk area. The iHub is a fabrication lab, workforce development training lab, and youth STEM center where imagination, design, and creativity will take place. This will include wood and metal shops, a robotics and automation lab, and multiple collaboration spaces for project planning and construction.
Andrea Libengood, chair of the Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund, said the advisory committee members are excited to be part of the iHub project.
“Nearly every day I drive by the site,” she said, “and am thrilled with the progress and what this will bring to our community, especially our young people.”
The iHub is a $8.5 million initiative located in an 18,000 square foot facility in the 700 block of Norfolk Avenue. The project aims to bridge the gap between industry needs and community potential.
“The iHub is focused on upscaling and credentialling,” explained Erin Sharpe, director of the iHub. “This collaborative and inclusive environment will give individuals the opportunity to explore, experiment, and create using cutting-edge tools and technology. It also serves as a hub for community makers to innovate and a place where youth can engage in hands-on exploratory learning that sparks curiosity and creative problem-solving.”
Although the iHub building will not be completed until spring 2026, Sharpe and robotics trainer Henry Goeden are already providing youth outreach across the 20-county area served by Northeast Community College. Activities have included youth robotics camps at several locations and support for regional robotics teams.
Sharpe and Goeden are also developing the iHub’s industry-level credential programs and working with area businesses to ensure that the iHub meets their needs.
The Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund — which was founded in 2001 and began building a permanent endowment to benefit Norfolk in 2008 — is designed to help ensure a growing, thriving community where giving back is an ongoing priority for all citizens. All of the fund’s endowment earnings are awarded back into the community. Since 2005, the NACFF has awarded more than $2 million in grants and disbursements.
Those wishing to contribute to the Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund may mail donations to P.O. Box 1187, Norfolk, NE 68702 or visit the website norfolkgivesback.org.
Those seeking more information on the iHub project and ways to be involved in it can reach Sharpe, the iHub director, at esorensen@northeast.edu.
The college previously announced two leadership gifts for the iHub: $250,000 from Nucor Divisions in Nebraska and $250,000 from Norfolk Iron and Metal. Other manufacturers, employers, and financial institutions are also being asked to support the project with fundraising efforts continuing through the spring.
For more information on the iHub Campaign, contact Tracy Kruse at foundation@northeast.edu or call 402-844-7240. Online donations are accepted at northeast.edu/give. Checks may also be mailed to the iHub Campaign, Northeast Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 469, Norfolk, NE 68702-0469.
###
