It’s official: Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) has sold its Boardman Lake Campus to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians (GTB).

According to an NMC press release sent to local media Tuesday morning, “the governing boards of both NMC and the GTB have signed a purchase and sale agreement” for the property. NMC’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the $27 million sale Monday evening at their regular January meeting, after originally announcing their intention to sell the Boardman Lake Campus in December. The GTB’s tribal council, meanwhile, signed the document on January 21.

The home of NMC’s University Center for 30 years, the Boardman Lake Campus went through big changes last year as the college’s university partners moved to main campus. While the property no longer hosts any actual classes, several NMC offices are still located there. Those offices won’t immediately move elsewhere: Per the press release, while the sale to GTB “could be completely executed by spring,” NMC will “lease back space for one year” while considering how and where to relocate those functions.

Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the GTB has committed to never using the property for gaming activities. The tribe has also promised to “maintain public access for recreation, including the Boardman Lake loop trail, and lake and river access.” GTB intends to use the property as a centralized governmental services center.

The purchase document also carves out protections for the Greenspire School, which currently leases space inside the Boardman Lake Campus building. Greenspire’s lease lasts through 2030, and the school has a “tenant option” to renew through 2035; both terms are included in and protected by the purchase/sale agreement.

In selling the property, NMC’s board has resolved to put the proceeds from the deal “toward priorities already identified in NMC’s strategic plan and campus master plan, all focused on strengthening student success and the region's future workforce.” Such priorities include converting the Osterlin Building into a student services hub, expanding student housing, and adding a new on-campus power plant.

“Together, these long-term priorities represent well over $100 million in planned investments, meaning the sale allows NMC to make meaningful progress, but represents only a portion of what is required,” the press release notes.

“This investment gives us momentum, but it doesn’t change the scale of the work ahead,” NMC President Nick Nissley said. “Supporting student success and the region’s future will continue to require strong partnerships with donors and the state.”

Given that Monday’s meeting was also the first regular meeting of the NMC board this year, it also saw the election of new officers for 2026. Mark Keely will serve a board chair, a role most recently held by Laura Oblinger, with Jody Lundquist as vice chair. Pam Horne and Andy Robitshek will be the board's secretary and treasurer, respectively.