Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) has received approximately $9 million from the federal government, thanks to a pandemic-era tax credit program. The money will be used to bolster NMC’s progress toward strategic plan and campus master plan goals, including “construction/capital budget needs,” according to NMC President Nick Nissley.

In an email sent to the NMC community Tuesday afternoon, Nissley reported the “good news to share about funding for the college,” calling it “the result of a lot of careful work behind the scenes over the past couple of years.”

“Over that time, we took a close look at whether NMC qualified for the federal Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a relief program tied to organizations that kept employees on payroll during the very disruptive time of the COVID pandemic,” Nissley explained. “Based on our financials in 2021, we did qualify, and we completed the detailed process required to claim the credit, filing our request in early 2024. I’m pleased to share that we have now secured approximately $9 million in ERC funds, including interest.”

The ERC is described on the IRS website as “a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The program was born as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (better known as the CARES Act), which President Donald Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020 – just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden then expanded the program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021.

“These funds will help us move forward on priorities already identified through our strategic plan and campus master plan, including student-facing spaces, campus infrastructure, and long-term improvements that support our mission,” Nissley’s email continued. He promised the college would “be thoughtful in how these funds are used and ensure they are aligned with the priorities we have already set together.” The money “will not be used to support annual operating budget needs,” he clarified, but “can and will be used to support construction/capital budget needs.”

Nissley credited former NMC trustee Chris Bott “for encouraging us to take a closer look at our eligibility” for the ERC program; and Vice President of Finance & Administration Troy Kierczynski “for leading the work to see it through.” He also thanked the office of Congressman Jack Bergman for lending assistance along the way.

“I’m grateful for the work happening across this college every day,” Nissley concluded. “This is a good example of how steady, disciplined effort over time can create real opportunity for our students and our community.”