The new Ottumwa Job Corps Center now going up at Ottumwa Regional Airport is the largest construction project in southeast Iowa. That’s what reporter Mark Newman found out during a tour of the structure this week. Newman said that he was amazed how much work had been done since the August groundbreaking.

The facility is swiftly rising up as walls are now in place with roofs soon to follow before the snow flies. It is hoped that the Corps campus can be completed to open about this time next year.

It’s a huge boon for our area, providing job training for more than 500 students and jobs for over 100 staff members. Job Corps centers aim at providing post-secondary education and training to young people who otherwise might not pursue skills beyond high school.

Another recent groundbreaking also provides much-needed services for our area veterans.

Dignitaries and personnel from the Iowa City VAMC (Veterans Affairs Medical Center) joined local supporters to put their shovels in the ground to begin construction of the Ottumwa Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

The new clinic will serve from 3,000 to 4,000 area veterans, providing primary care and mental health services through an outpatient clinic model.

It’s located at the Ottumwa Regional Health Center site — east of the driveway for Ottumwa Medical Clinic.

VA personnel think the site is great in its proximity to other community health services. And, as one veteran said, it affords close to home care for veterans who otherwise might not be traveling to Iowa City for help.

In two groundbreakings in about three months, the Ottumwa area is fortunate to have such facilities under way — for our young people and for our veterans, no matter their age, who have served our country.

Thanks to all the many people who helped make these two projects possible.

We appreciate your efforts.