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HU, PHD challenge community to get local learning center off ground

Ed Vessels (right), president of HiValu LLC and a member of the Huntington County Community Learning Center development team, explains the fund-raising match challenge issued by Huntington University and PHD, Inc. during a press conference Thursday.
Ed Vessels (right), president of HiValu LLC and a member of the Huntington County Community Learning Center development team, explains the fund-raising match challenge issued by Huntington University and PHD, Inc. during a press conference Thursday. Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Two Huntington County heavyweights - PHD Inc. and Huntington University - have joined forces to challenge the community to raise the final amount needed to get the Huntington County Community Learning Center off the ground and running.

The "Bringing It Home Campaign" was unveiled Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Huntington County Community School Corporation's Vocational Technical Center, site of the new learning center.

Ed Vessels, president of HiValu LLC and a member of the learning center development team, says $822,300 of the $1.3 million goal has already been raised. The challenge from PHD and Huntington University will match 50 percent of whatever money is donated between now and Jan. 31, 2015, in order to raise an additional $200,000.

Vessels says the need to get the learning center going is emphasized by area manufacturers, who need employees with the kinds of skills that will be taught at the center to both high school students as well as adults.

He says the vision for the community center is a collaborative effort between state agencies, public schools, government, higher education, community organizations, industry and business working together to close the skills gap.

"There is an increasing emphasis both here and statewide on career and technical education, especially in the manufacturing and healthcare centers," he said. "This project is all about collaboration, to promote skills, jobs and futures, and it will ultimately be a one-stop shop for a continuum of education in Huntington County."

Plans call for expanding the current 18,000-square-foot facility to 24,000 square feet. Four classrooms will be built where the vocational center's auto service bays are now located, providing space for a health care lab and a welding lab. The center will also offer machining and industrial maintenance programs.

The idea, Vessels says, is to produce workers with the skills to fill "in-demand" jobs - in other words, jobs that employers need employees for - while aiming to increase personal income and economic development in the region.

"We're not training just to train," he said. "We're training people for skills and credentials that will get them a job."

Offices will also be built for Ivy Tech Community College Northeast, which will offer a variety of college courses and certification-based training for careers such as precision machining, certified nursing assistant (CNA), emergency medical technician (EMT), criminal justice and automotive technician.

WorkOne Northeast will also maintain an office at the center to provide job search assistance, skills assessments, career planning and development for workshops and high school equivalency preparation.

Leland Boren, president and chief executive officer of PHD, says the center's integrated career education model puts Huntington County on the right path, one that his company supports.

"We're excited and interested in sharing with you to see that this grows and becomes a major factor in your community," Boren said. "Companies are competing for that same thing, and we're all looking for the same people. We need that help because they just aren't available."

"You created a spark, and make that spark grow into a flame. That's what you're doing here today, because you will be successful as long as you have that same attitude."

HU President Dr. Sherilyn Emberton says the university is also excited about issuing the challenge with PHD to both individual as well as corporate donors.

"It is an honor to see this opportunity come to our city, to our area and to our region," she said. "We recognize the value of continuing the partnership and collaboration that it takes to move people from a K through 12 experience, return and learn as a returning student, all the way to the university experience. We're excited to participate and be a part of that."

HU will offer dual-credit opportunities and expose the CNA students to the university's nursing program. HU is also considering offering adult education classes at the center.

For more information about donations and future class offerings, call the learning center at 356-2858. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Complete caption: Ed Vessels (right), president of HiValu LLC and a member of the Huntington County Community Learning Center development team, explains the fund-raising match challenge issued by Huntington University and PHD, Inc. during a press conference Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Vocational Technical Center in Huntington. HU President Dr. Sherilyn Emberton (left) and PHD President and CEO Leland Boren await their turn to speak about the 50 percent match to reach the $1.3 million goal for the new, integrated community learning center.