Plymouth breaks ground on READI-funded Career Innovation Center

Friday, August 16, 2024 at 11:59 AM

Local and regional leaders broke ground today on the Marshall County Career Innovation Center, a $9 million career and technical education construction project that is expected to serve students from 10 rural public schools in Northern Indiana.

Located on the Plymouth High School campus, the Career Center is expected to be able to serve 425 students per year and 175 adults with graduation and job or education placement rates of nearly 95 percent. The focus will on programming that fill industry needs in careers that pay a living wage such as construction trades, advanced manufacturing, aviation, veterinary science, nursing, automotive technology, criminal justice, culinary arts, early childhood education, and entrepreneurship. The project will also create 32 new daycare seats for teachers and students.

“Our school districts have worked for years on this vision to bring more CTE resources to our students and help place them in quality job and educational opportunities," said Allie Shook, the Executive Director of the Marshall County Lifelong Learning Network. "This Center will further enhance our community's vibrancy and economic growth potential.”

The Career Center received $1.75 million in READI 1.0 funding awarded by the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA). Launched by Gov. Holcomb and led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), READI encourages regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that will attract and retain talent in Indiana and improve the quality of life for Hoosiers. READI was established with an initial $500 million in partnership with the Indiana General Assembly in 2021 and has since grown to a $1.25 billion initiative. The IEDC initially awarded the maximum grant amount of $50 million to the South Bend – Elkhart region, and in April, the region was awarded an additional $45 million in READI 2.0 funds, with the RFP process underway.

“The Marshall County Career Innovation Center will make an amazing impact on the county,” said John DeSalle, Chair of the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA). “The need for career and technical education is great, and this facility will serve the needs of students and adults throughout Marshall County, helping them transform their potential into a thriving career.”

For more information on this and other Northern Indiana RDA READI 1.0 awards, click here.