Council agrees to fund $425K Career Center project over three years
Creation of a cross-community Hamilton County Center for Career Achievement advanced Wednesday night when the Hamilton County Council agreed to fund $425,000 over three years to support early implementation stages of the program.
Positioned as “an aspirational partnership to support the county and our workforce challenges,” the career center will expand school offerings, provide pathways to diverse opportunities, help meet the workforce needs of local employers, and keep students inside the county to take Career in Technical Education (CTE) classes now traditionally offered in Marion County. The Center will not be housed in one school but in numerous systems throughout the county.
Nation
“This is an exciting time for the students in Hamilton County who will soon have access to new career considerations,” said Hamilton County Councilor Steve Nation, who along with Councilor Ken Alexander pushed for consideration of the initiative.
The county’s funds, through the Hamilton County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC), will enable the hiring of a Career Center Executive Director, who will coordinate research and development, logistics, and alignment across county school districts. HCEDC currently manages Hamilton County’s 21st Century Talent Region initiatives through partnership with governmental, corporate, education and non-profit leaders.
The Career Center Executive Director will build on these relationships and work closely with county leadership, the school districts, chambers of commerce and other Hamilton County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC) stakeholders to create a five-year plan that, when paired with a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA), will detail what opportunities are currently available for high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) and ensure offerings at the new Center meet the needs of students and employers. Ivy Tech Hamilton County is expanding, becoming an independent campus this July, and will be an asset to these efforts.
The development team believes, based on local enrollment trends in CTE offerings at independent districts, that closer proximity to programs and expanded course offerings will raise the current level of 2 percent participation by students in these courses to a much higher number.
“We have already seen this happen at Hamilton Heights,” said Hamilton Heights Superintendent Dr. Derek Arrowood. “Three years ago, we started our own construction trades program with seven students. This fall we have 130 students enrolled in the same program. If we can offer these programs locally, we can dramatically increase the opportunities for our students locally.”
Alexander
Arrowood
“Economic development is the life blood of our communities and with the growth of the county and increased need for a skilled workforce to support our local companies, this cross-community model will allow our schools to partner with the business community and Ivy Tech to best support the needs of each community and the County as a whole,” added Councilman Ken Alexander. “The vote tonight was a vote for our local businesses and a vote for the families and businesses that wish to come to Hamilton County.”
The proposed opening of the “career center” program offerings is school year 2023-24. After two years at full student capacity, the Hamilton County center will be self-funded.
The 20,000 square-foot shelter would be designed to provide temporary shelter for up to six victims of domestic violence at a time. (Rendering provided)
Funding approved for domestic violence shelter development project
The Hamilton County Council approved a $14,500 request by Councilman Fred Glynn to fund a project development agreement with RQAW. The engineering firm has been tasked with imagining a domestic violence shelter for Hamilton County. RQAW presented preliminary findings and renderings at tonight’s council meeting.
Ferguson
“There is no safe emergency shelter located in the county for families fleeing domestic violence,” said Susan Ferguson, executive director at Prevail, Hamilton County’s comprehensive non-residential services provider. “Because of this, victims are staying in, or returning to, unsafe and abusive situations so that they have housing for themselves and their children.”
In 2020, Prevail served 3,783 clients – 52 percent of them victims of domestic violence. Since there is currently no shelter available in Hamilton County, victims and their children are often sent to shelters in Madison and Marion counties.
“If we’re being really honest, this is something that should have happened years ago,” said County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt. “When we have to send a family outside the county for shelter, it just further complicates the matter, especially when it comes to getting the kids to school. This facility is really long overdue.”
Glynn
Heirbrandt
Eight Hamilton County residents died as a result of domestic violence last year.
“Domestic violence affects people of all socio-economic backgrounds and education levels,” added County Councilman Fred Glynn. “Hamilton County is no different. We need to start taking care of our most vulnerable residents and providing them with the support they need to leave a bad situation.”
The 20,000 square-foot shelter would be designed to provide temporary shelter for up to six victims of domestic violence at a time. A location has yet to be determined. The estimated cost could be anywhere from $3 million to $5 million.
If you or someone you know is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse, call Prevail’s 24-hour crisis line at (317) 776-3472 or the 24-hour statewide hotline at (800) 332-7385.