Article submitted by James Master, The Pilot News Managing Editor
MARSHALL COUNTY — Greg Hildebrand came before the County Commissioners on behalf of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and the Lifelong Learning Network (LLN) to discuss the potential for a Lifelong Learning Center.
Hildebrand, MCEDC economic development project manager, stated that one of MCEDC’s jobs is workforce. “And it’s becoming more and more important as we work, everybody is looking for workforce. It’s the first question that they’re asking.”
He has been on the Lifelong Learning Network board for about a year and a half. “And we are working towards, we’d like to create a career innovation center. A learning center for commercial trade education.”
Hildebrand also introduced Allie Shook, the newest addition to the LLN. Shook was recently hired as the LLN’s first executive director. Shook began at the beginning of April.
“I’m really excited about how we move forward here in a number of ways, speaking early childhood, youth and CTE, adult basic ed and workforce development,” said Shook. “So, looking at how we can bridge the gap and fill those holes that we have right now and try to help our employers, and employees, meet the needs of our county and really grow Marshall County in a number of ways.”
The career center is one of LLN’s priorities, according to Shook. Having a career center would allow LLN to have a facility to encourage continuing education, workforce development, adult basic ed, and early childhood.
“That’s offering those opportunities for our little ones to see and feel and touch some of those things where they can see from a STEM standpoint and get that interest in going into those fields as they get older. And we can pipe them right into employers that we have right here in Marshall County and hope to grow our population,” said Shook.
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer asked where Shook’s office is located. Shook replied that she is working remotely for the moment. She said that she’s out and about around the county and sometimes uses MCEDC. According to Shook, Triton Superintendent Jeremy Riffle has offered some office space.
“She works in close conjunction with the CTE program which is presently a ten school district co-operative. Plymouth is part of that co-operative. Most of Marshall County schools are in that co-operative,” said Hildebrand.
Shook explained that the LLN board is comprised of members from around Marshall County. There are also organizations such as the schools, WorkOne, MCEDC, and others that are involved in LLN.
“Everybody on the board recognizes the importance of growing this program. And this program, as it grows, will need some sort of building. What a great advantage that would be,” said Hildebrand.
While the building can be used for youth education, it could be used for a myriad of purposes. “We’d really like to see that building used more than just during school hours, of course. We’d like to see it used 24/7 if we could,” Hildebrand said. He went on to say that students could use the center from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. After that time, then adult education could go on. “And then we’d even open that up to possible people reentering the workforce from correction facilities.”
