NORFOLK, Neb. -- Officials with Norfolk Iron and Metal recently announced their support and a $250,000 donation to the Northeast Community College iHub project.
This investment will support the development of a 16,000+ square-foot, state-of-the-art workforce development and community fabrication facility currently under construction in downtown Norfolk.
“Norfolk Iron & Metal is invested in the long-term success of our community,” said President Arnie Robinson. “The iHub will be a great resource in this community for everyone, but we are especially interested in the breadth of appeal to all ages. The space will offer opportunities to learn new skills to junior high and high school students, a chance to develop the professional talents of our employees and other professionals in northeast Nebraska, and provide hobbyists a place to hone their craft.”
“We sincerely thank the Robinson family and Norfolk Iron and Metal for their commitment to this project,” said Northeast President Leah Barrett. “Because of support from local leaders, like Norfolk Iron & Metal, the iHub will become a cornerstone of lifelong learning, innovation, and collaboration. Financial support from area donors will equip the space with cutting-edge labs for industrial automation, electromechanical, robotics, prototyping, and both wood and metalworking.”
With 18 locations nationwide, Norfolk Iron and Metal is one of the nation’s largest metal service centers, processing and distributing a wide range of products like structural steel, plate, sheet, tube, and more. Started as a local hide and scrap metal company in 1908, Norfolk Iron and Metal has been a family-owned and family-operated business for more than a century. The company has evolved into one of the most technologically advanced steel providers in the nation.
“For many generations, my family has believed strongly in the value of education, providing support for many local education-based projects both financially and with our time. iHub is one more example of providing educational opportunities to all members of the community, and we are proud to have our company to be a part of helping bring this project to the area,” Robinson explained.
“It is rewarding that major employers in the Norfolk area understand the value the iHub will bring to their industries,” said iHub Director Erin Sorensen. “From youth robotics practice spaces and STEM camps to adult upskilling and professional development, the iHub is a launch pad where education meets real-world application, community engagement flourishes, and a new generation of innovators and skilled professionals will be nurtured.”
The total iHub project cost is expected to be $8.5 million. Initial funding came from a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and a $750,000 Community Project Funding Request from U.S. Representative Mike Flood. After accounting for the initial investment of institutional matching funds for some equipment and the purchase of the facility, the remaining gap is $2 million.
In recognition of the donation, the Industrial Automation Lab in the iHub will be named for Norfolk Iron and Metal. Naming rights are available for donations of $25,000 and above, with gifts from $500 to $24,999 acknowledged on a donor recognition display.
For more information on the iHub Campaign, contact Tracy Kruse at foundation@northeast.edu or call 402-844-7240. Online donations are being 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.
Photo ID: Arnie and Julie Robinson (Courtesy photo)
###