The money will be used to enhance academic, workforce training and other programs at the college which has campuses in Newtown Township, East Rockhill and Bristol Township.

Academic, workforce training and other programs at Bucks County Community College will get a big financial boost from $4.25 million raised in a recent capital campaign.

The most ambitious fundraising drive in college history started in 2016 and far exceeded its original goal of raising $3.5 million in five years, BCCC President Stephanie Shanblatt said.

Once that goal was met in only two years, the college's foundation board reset the bar to $4 million, which was then exceeded in less than three years, she added.

Donations to the campaign called "Building Strong Communities Together One Student at a Time" came from 1,848 individuals and organizations, including 64 gifts of more than $10,000, BCCC Foundation officials said.

"Thanks to these generous donors, we plan to expand academic and workforce education programs to meet the region's demands and better serve prospective and incumbent workers," Shanblatt said. "We will also be able to increase scholarship opportunities and expand our dual-enrollment program so students can get a head start on life after high school."

Dual-enrollment programs involve high school students taking courses at BCCC to receive college credit.

The college, which has campuses in Newtown Township, East Rockhill and Bristol Township, has increased its workforce training programs in recent years and conducts metalworks, industrial maintenance and gas pipeline mechanic training programs at four different locations. Training at BCCC has so far supplied 200 skilled workers to those industries, college officials said.

A new $14 million building called The Bucks County Center for Economic & Workforce Development is being planned for the Gene and Marlene Epstein campus in Bristol Township.

The building will allow the college to consolidate most of its workforce training in one location and should "help fill the skills gap for local and regional manufacturers and businesses," BCCC officials have said.

Jules Dingle, the Philadelphia architect designing the building, has said he hopes to start construction in the fall and finish the building in 12 to 18 months.

In addition to space for training programs, the building will have offices for some county agencies and conference and meeting rooms, according to county and BCCC officials.

The college's main sources of funding are the county, state,and tuition and fees paid by students. The foundation raises money for scholarships and other programs not affordable under the regular budget.