The proposed 22 Million Dollar “Cradle to Career” Tech Center may become a reality on 28 East on the Frankfort High School Campus.
This facility designed to serve the entire county addresses critical needs facing the local economy, workforce development, daycare and education in the community.
One of the primary challenges now facing the 22 Million Dollar facility plan is funding.
The Cradle to Career Tech Center would combine child care and child education with a secondary technical education complex centrally located for all Clinton County Students under one roof.
The Cradle to Career Center initiative is spearheaded by Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, City of Frankfort, Bauer Family Resources, United Way for Clinton County, Clinton County Government, Ivy Tech, Frankfort Community Schools, Clinton Prairie, Rossville, Clinton Central Schools and Private investments from area industry, business, individuals and organizations.
The proposed “Cradle to Career” Center on 28 East in Frankfort would be located just East of the Frankfort High School Tennis Courts on 28 and West of the existing Frankfort Community Schools administration building. If everything goes according to plan and funding can be raised, the Center construction would start in 36 to 48 months.
The structure, if built, would contain a child day care area capable of attending to 200 children 5AM to 9PM, infant to school age, with an emphasis on children under three, according to Tristen Comegys CEO of Bauer Family Resources. The child care area plan includes 6 infant classrooms and 3 classrooms serving 3 to 5 year olds. These classrooms would be open for two different shifts if full capacity in the plan is realized. Playground equiptment on the north side of the building is planned.
The “Cradle to Career” Tech Center would also contain a Career Academy or Tech Center potentially delivering education in the following fields. Ability to deliver education in any field would require a minimum number of participating students:
- Construction
- Welding
- Nursing (pre-nursing)
- Automotive
- Manufacturing
- Criminal Justice
- Fire Rescue
- Carpentry
- Emergency Medical Services
- Communication TV/Radio
- Agriculture
- Information Technology
- Hospitality/Culinary Arts
- Cosmetology
- Other areas according to necessity and demand
Wildcat Creek Career Cooperative now serving Clinton County Schools may integrate with the Center to maximize efficiency to deliver the best education opportunities for all Clinton County Students.
Ivy Tech Community College, now located on the Davison Campus in Kaspar Hall in Downtown Frankfort may be able to offer a partnership with the Career Tech Center. Ivy Tech’s Kaspar Hall/Davison Campus may relocate to the Center for easier access to educational opportunities for students, offer $500,000 in equipment, 3 staff members and administrative support and expertise. If Ivy Tech combines with the new tech center, naming rights already established at Ivy Tech Frankfort would be taken into consideration, according to Matt Rhoda, Frankfort Community Schools Superintendent and Spokesperson for the proposed Center.
The proposed facility would be two stories with tenant space available for flexible programs available to students.
Goals of the Cradle to Career Center include:
- Provide affordable childcare for 200 children infant to 5 years old.
- Provide early pre-school childhood education for 200 children
- Provide a program to train and retain an educated workforce in the community.
- Provide opportunity for career exploration for all Clinton County students.
- Provide Duel Credit opportunities leading toward a College Degree
- Provide Certification for certain areas of study
- Provide several pathways for working in High Demand-High Pay jobs and careers.
- Interface with area business and industry to provide workforce training to support local economy
Thought is now focused on a transportation plan of some sort to increase the center’s capacity to serve the entire county.
In the background of this initiative is the reality that many in the current area workforce are near retirement and will be leaving a trained labor force vacuum in its wake. This is not only a problem facing Clinton County but is a serious nation-wide problem looming on the horizon.
A critical piece of the puzzle at this point is financial. So far 4.26 Million has been raised for this project, leaving a 17.74 Million Dollar Gap at this point. Anita Stewart, United Way for Clinton County Executive Director said fundraising is currently underway for other naming rights attached to the facility, including:
- Entire Building
- Early Learning Center
- Major Lab Areas
- Manufacturing Area
- Automotive Area
- Nursing Area
- Welding Area
- Construction Area
- Criminal Justice Area
- Additional Minor Lab Areas
- 5 Additional Classroom
- Upstairs Lab Area
These naming rights will be done on a “Highest Bidder” Basis, according to Stewart.
If the entire funding amount is not raised, compromises and plan reductions will have to be considered.
Clinton County area School Corporations will provide for much of the maintenance of the facility after successful completion of the capitol campaign and construction steps.
The leadership for this project will be reaching out to the community via presentations and Q.A. sessions at organizations, businesses, industry and community clubs.