Delco council highlights $25 million investment and county funding for new community‑college Southeast Center

Councilwoman Phillips said April 8 that Delaware County Community College’s new Southeast Center in Drexel Hill has opened after a multilateral funding push that included $25 million in state investment and significant county support.

“The ceremony marked the completion of the transformation of the former Archbishop Prendergast High School into a multi‑use facility,” Phillips said, adding the center will support career pathways in health care, biotechnology, skilled trades, culinary arts, hospitality and early childhood education. She said the county and partners helped secure $2,000,000 focused on hospitality through VisitDelco and redirected $3,750,000 in state grant funding through the Delco delegation in Harrisburg.

Phillips told council the Delco Redevelopment Authority is acting as local administrator for what she described as a total $25,000,000 investment of state funding and that the county “directed $14,250,000 in total funding toward the development of the Southeast Center, including $5,750,000 that would not have otherwise been available.” The center sits near Garrett Road and Lansdowne Avenue in Upper Darby Township.

Why it matters: County officials framed the project as workforce‑development infrastructure meant to expand local training and job pipelines. Phillips said the center will connect students to specialized career training and strengthen regional pathways to in‑demand jobs.

The county recognized the college and the local officials and partners involved; council members presented a resolution honoring the college’s work. No formal vote on new county appropriations for this item was recorded at the meeting.