Great Plains College (GPC) is increasing its academic footprint in Martensville.
Beginning this fall, the college is leasing additional classroom and office space in the Martensville Civic Centre building for the next five years to accommodate increased demand.
Martensville City Council voted at a video-conference meeting on Tuesday, July 21 to sign a new five-year lease agreement with GPC. The GPC will pay an escalating annual rent of $37,200 in the first year, rising to $40,800 by the final year.
The GPC Board of Directors approved and signed the new lease earlier this summer.
The college began leasing space in the building in 2019. The one-year lease agreement expired June 30, 2020; however, GPC had an option to renew on an annual basis.
Earlier this year, GPC officials approached the city with a request to add more office and classroom space; specifically a vacant room previously used by the public health nurse as well as a small storage room.
As part of the deal, the college agreed to increase the amount of the lease fee, and also to make improvements to the rooms at its own cost.
In addition, the college, the province and the city have agreed to share the cost of a $75,000 upgrade to the shared washrooms in the building.
The Martensville Civic Centre is also home to the Martensville branch of the Wheatland Regional Library, the Martensville History Committee, and the Martensville Information and Visitor Centre.
Under the terms of the new lease, GPC will have the option of increasing its classroom and office space in the building in the future as long as that does not impact other tenants of the building.
According to a report by city administration tabled at the July 21 city council meeting, there will be additional maintenance and janitorial costs associated with the increased space used by the college. However, the report adds, those increased costs will be offset by increased revenue from the college lease fees.
Great Plains College also has a campus in Warman.