Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — Allison “Allie” Shook and Greg Hildebrand of Lifelong Learning Network (LLN) approached the Plymouth Common Council for a letter of approval to apply for a Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) Grant to help fund the Marshall County Career Innovation Center.
Hildebrand explained that LLN is an organization that has been around since the seventies and provides career and technical education to the area schools and to adult learners. Until May of this year the organization consisted entirely of volunteers. Shook was hired as the Executive Director in May.
Shook illustrated high demand for the services offered by LLN and the need for a facility to support expanded educational and training opportunities for students and adult learners to support workforce development. The initiative also includes opportunities in early childhood development.
The center will be located on the campus of the Plymouth Community School Corporation (PCSC). The location is accessible by bike and walking trails. Plymouth is also located in the center of Marshall County, accessible to other schools as shared programs continue to grow. There are currently over 400 students from ten schools in the shared programs now. As the state continues to increase Career and Technical Education (CTE) requirements that need will only continue to grow.
Digital Manufacturing is a new course coming to Plymouth this year. Precision Machining and Digital Manufacturing would be housed in the Innovation Center.
Some of the courses will also be offered at the Plymouth High School Service Building and the Lincoln Education Center.
The goal is to increase opportunities in CTE for students and to offer training opportunities for adults working in manufacturing to increase their skills to meet the needs of local employers.
The council approved a letter of support to apply for the READI Grant.
