PITTSBURG, Kan. — The brand-new Kelce College of Business, scheduled to open in the fall, received a boost in funding thanks to a $35,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation Thursday afternoon.
Just outside of the currently constructed building on N. Broadway, representatives of Arvest Bank and Pittsburg State University gathered for the special presentation. During the presentation, Arvest Bank Pittsburg and Joplin region EVP/Loan Manager Jared Turnbull spoke about the future impact of the facility, scheduled to be ready for the fall semester.
“This new building here is positioned in our downtown core,” he said. “... This building is going to drive economic growth. The new building is positioned to be a community growth engine by hosting workshops, trainings, entrepreneur work, and small business development activities directly supporting the local economy. It’s downtown location near the (Pittsburg) Chamber of Commerce and dozens of businesses maximizes the connection between students, faculty, and the business community.
“... This building will also cultivate the future workforce and provide student opportunity. The project is a strategic investment in the talent pipeline, providing 1,000 business students each semester with a modern academic building which is going to feature cutting edge technology and flexible learning spaces. By funding this resource, the bank hopes to ensure students receive innovative and structured and valuable connections to the business community, which is essential for developing the talent needed to strengthen the region’s economy.”
The funds were provided through the Arvest Foundation, a charitable arm of Arvest Bank that supports local organizations in the Four-State area. Last year alone, the Arvest Foundation provided $287,500 in total donations to the Four-State area, compiling 701 volunteer hours through 48 associate volunteers. The Arvest Foundation additionally secured $192,000 in local sponsorships in 2025.
Kelce College of Business Dean Paul Grimes expressed his appreciation for the grant, which will help furnish and put the finishing touches on the two-story building.
“The mission of the Kelce College of Business is to educate future business professionals today in order to build stronger communities tomorrow, and that’s exactly what this investment is going to do,” said Grimes. “By helping us furnish the building, by helping us equip the building, by putting state-of-the-art equipment in here ... This is truly a partnership and a commitment to work together to help regional economic development.”
According to Grimes, the ribbon cutting for the Kelce College of Business along with the completion of the remodeling of the Besse Hotel remain on schedule for Tuesday, Aug. 11. Staff are expected to make the move to the Kelce College of Business facility around July 6, giving them around one month to prepare for the opening.
“They are putting the finishing touches on it right now,” he said. “If you walk through the building, it’s full of pallets, tile, and carpet and door finishing. There’s just all kinds of things that have to be done to wrap this thing up, but they are very, very close... That gives the faculty, the staff, and our employees about a month to get moved in, and it’s going to be a big chore. We only have a mile and a quarter to go but it’s still going to be a lot of work.”
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
