A very busy week of celebrations with several businesses in Perry started Monday.

In the morning there was a ribbon cutting for the newly expanded Progressive Foundry. The project has taken a few years to complete, but they added a new wellness center and new office space as well. President Kirk Vankirk appreciates the community’s patience and support throughout their expansion project.

“Well I can’t say enough about our community and how they have supported us through the years. The acquisition of Second Street was bigger than anybody imagined. In my mind the community has always been behind us, been behind the industries in Perry, Perry Economic Development, the City of Perry, have always worked well with us as an industry. So I can’t be more grateful.”      

Then in the afternoon, another ribbon cutting was held, this time at Dallas County Hospital and their new partnership with Purdue University Global with the simulation labs that will allow nursing students to practice procedures and other duties on manikins. DCH CEO Angela Mortoza talks about how bringing in this organization will impact the community overall.

“I think the fact that we’re facing a healthcare worker shortage, I definitely think that this will help to train nurses, not just in Perry particularly, but even our rural hospitals across the state. The other thing it’s very nice for our nurses to be able to practice on the manikins some of their skills that they need to keep up on. And so it’s a life-like situation for them to be able to practice.”    

There are two more ribbon cuttings this week in Perry, with today at the Perry Middle School at 4pm and ReMax Precision at 3pm on Friday.