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MACON, MO. -- This fall Macon residents won't have to go far from home to receive a four year degree.    

Central Methodist University is just months away from opening a satellite campus in Macon.

Macon County Economic Development presented a $10,000 check to the city of Macon Wednesday to remodel the old YMCA.  USDA is providing $56,000 also to help with renovations.

That facility will be transformed into a satellite campus for CMU.

Moberly Area Community College will partner with CMU to offer a variety of classes.

“Central Methodist University has a long history of cooperative programs in small communities and with community colleges to expand and provide opportunities for four year degree programs and for area residents who would like to come back, say working adults and go to school at night to say finish a degree program,” said CMU Director of Public Relations and Publications.

CMU plans to offer classes at the Macon campus beginning the last week of August.

“We will be in classes the last week of August and we're going to have an open house here in Macon next Tuesday, June the 29th,” said Cullimore.

That open house will be at the Macon Area Career Center commons from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Representatives from both CMU and MACC will be present to answer questions.

Economic development officials say Macon is a progressive community that is continuing to grow.

“We do have tremendous and wonderful universities and colleges close by but with the clost of gas and just the price of education as it is we know that having something here locally would be a benefit to our community,” said Macon County Economic Development Executive Director Denise Bennett.

The $10,000 dollars is provided from the Landfill Fee Fund Program.   

Macon County voters approved the fund last August.  Since then it's helped with programs like this and has provided low interest loans to small businesses throughout the county.