Articles

A more clearly defined and detailed Organization chart has been added to the NCI WIRED Implementation Plan. 

Ivy Tech gives help to factory workers

Aleasha Sandley  Journal Review (Crawfordsville)

It’s not just the doctors and lawyers who need a good college education.

Factory workers and those with manufacturing jobs, which make up a large part of MontgomeryCounty’s workforce, are finding they need training after high school to perform their jobs and move up the ladder.

Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette wants to make it easier for these students to take the necessary classes and earn their associates’ degrees, offering scholarships for new students enrolled in the college’s manufacturing and industrial technology area.

The scholarships will cover two classes in a semester, including tuition, books and supplies, said Andrew Antonio, academic advisor of the School of Technology and Applied Sciences at Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus.

“Especially as Indiana becomes more and more competitive for more high-tech fields, it’s important that these people are able to educate themselves to keep up with demand,” Antonio said. “It’s becoming mandatory to at least have an associate’s.”

Crawfordsville has several factories, some of them supplying to larger ones in Lafayette, Antonio said. Ivy Tech is trying to help the workers in these factories get where they need to be as far as expertise and training, he said.

One business in Crawfordsville using Ivy Tech’s services is Maintenance Engineering, Inc./Surplus Industrial Equipment, 121 E. Pike St. The small company goes into factories and works on their machines and motors, employee Aaron Benge said.

Benge is working on getting his associate’s degree from Ivy Tech in computer numerical control programming, a condition of his employment with the company.  “I worked at Alcoa for five years and I wasn’t really moving up,” Benge said. “I was at a dead end. So my stepfather-in-law has talked about me working for him, and he said if I will get my degree he would hire me right now.”

Benge has worked at Maintenance Engineering since July and is only about a semester away from receiving his degree. He expects to complete enough course work to get a certificate by the end of this semester.

Students get certificates while working for their associates’ degrees as it can take some students years to finish, with full-time jobs and family obligations, Antonio said.

“It can be a long path,” he said. “While working for your associate’s, you can get certificates to show this is what I’ve done and I’ve completed and I’m also working toward my associate’s.”

Benge, who originally went to Ivy Tech five years ago and finished his general studies courses, knows what a hard road it can be to juggle family, job and school, as many Ivy Tech students do.

Benge is married with four children, runs an eBay store and teaches a teen Bible study on Sunday nights, in addition to his job at Maintenance Engineering and his school work. But going to school wasn’t an option for the busy father.

“I didn’t know anything about what I’m doing,” he said. “It was absolutely necessary. It’s helped out enormously. I will be able to move up once I have my degree.”  Benge pays for school partially with a Pell Grant, but also received one of the scholarships Ivy Tech offers to help pay for books.  New students who live or work in the counties of Montgomery, Tippecanoe, White, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Warren or Benton are eligible for the scholarships. Areas of study in the manufacturing/industrial technology department include computer integrated manufacturing, computer numerical control, facilities maintenance, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, industrial electrician, industrial maintenance, machine tool, quality assurance and welding.

Any factory that uses computers to manufacture parts or uses methods to streamline production or any building that needs maintenance uses people trained in these fields, Antonio said.  The scholarships are limited, and Antonio expects them to be around for at least the next two or three semesters. They are primarily aimed at new students who are going to be using their degree right away or already are in a job where they need it, Antonio said.  The scholarships also could help students who don’t qualify for other financial aid because they are still claimed as dependents of their parents, he said.

The scholarships won’t pay for a full associate’s degree, but will help them get started. Continuing on with the degree program will do them the most good in the end, Antonio said.

“It might help in the short term to take two classes, but in order to do any real good, I think they’re going to have to continue on and pursue that associate’s,” he said.

To apply for the scholarships, contact Antonio at 800-669-4882 Ext. 5460 or 765-269-5460 or aantonio@ivytech.edu, and Antonio will help fill out the application and discuss background and needs.

This quarterly report of the newly-formed ESN includes the PowerPoint of the Rocky Mountain Institute/Conexus workshop held in June in Kokomo at the Delphi training facility.

At the July 10th NCI WIRED meeting, Tim Cook and Lisa Leventhal of Katz, Sapper & Miller, a tax and accounting firm in Indianapolis, made a presentation on how tax and related issues impact the site selection process.  In particular, Tim and Lisa focused on the current tax climate in Indiana, and how it compares to the surrounding states of Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio.  The presentation focused on the fact sensitive aspects of tax analysis, including how the structure of the company and its industry can produce completely different tax impacts for a company’s site selection decision.  Tim and Lisa also touched on the best practices they have seen used by effective state and local government economic development officials. 

The slide presentation used by Tim and Lisa is attached. 

A second document, an Indiana snapshot  or 'leadersheet' provided by the IEDC  was distributed at the meeting by WIRED.

Attached is the electronic version of the 2004 State of the Workforce Report completed for the old North Central region provided by Kathy Burns of Tecumseh Area Partnership. 

TAP is developing an updated report with Graham Toft  leading the effort.  Graham and others from TAP met with many of  the WIRED LEDOs to discuss how the report should be formulated, any specific needs they have, etc.

If you have suggestions or questions, please contact Kathy Burns of TAP at kburns@tap.lafayette.in.uskburns@tap.lafayette.in.us

Though this presentation will be updated soon with the 2nd quarter results, this PowerPoint provides an overview of WIRED Activities and a sampling of success stories.

http://www.purdueresearchpark.com/academy/index.asp

The Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy

is a weeklong program for all incoming highschool Juniors and Seniors.
Students who demonstrate dedication and innovation in the
areas of Math, Science and Technology Education have applied. These students have strong leadership skills and an above average level of energy for becoming
involved in advanced learning activities.
Aspiring entrepreneurs will learn how to identify a possible
business, develop a product or service, create a marketing
plan and pitch the idea to potential investors.
Winning teams will receive college tuition vouchers, ranging from $100-$500.


For additional information,  visit http://www.purdueresearchwww.purdueresearchpark.com/academy
or contact: Sascha Harrell
smharrell@prf.org
(765) 494-6152
Or
Carmen Hunt      clhunt@prf.org    (765) 496-1049
SAVE THE DATE July 27 - August 1, 2008

CORE/LEDO Agenda

Conference Call 

Thursday, June 19^th, at 10:00 a.m.

 Update: Notes taken during the session are noted in Green.

A   WIRED Grant timing and updates:

1. Original grant will conclude on January 31, 2009.
2. DOL has granted a one year, no cost extension to Gen I regions
3. WIRED office staff, program managers & PTA holders continue to review all programs and activities
4. NCI’s goal is to complete 80% of all programs by 1/31/09
5. A select number of programs will utilize the extension period.

B   How Q2, 2008 is shaping up and anticipated reports:

1. Real progress being made in many initiatives, example Project Lead the Way results, Incubicity, ICEE programs, White County Instructional Center, Business Innovation programs Energy Efficiency, Health Care, Eureka Winning Ways
2. Quarterly reports are due on July 1^st
3. In addition to narratives, we now include:
   1. Complete metric spreadsheets
   2. Success stories & photos (please submit photos)
   3. Investment portfolio and spending projections
   4. Video/audio/press releases, etc.
4. Reports are posted on the website www.indiana-wired.netwww.indiana-wired.netwww.indiana-wired.net

You’re encouraged to review the news and communications site, WIRED documents, etc. for recent information.

C   Residual Funding available and programs being considered;

1. Approximately $500,000 has been identified for re-allocation and will be utilized to round-out the investment portfolio in specific key areas. 

Programs & estimated funding being considered:

o  Clean Energy Focus  - Outreach to identify our region as THE Clean Energy/Advanced Manufacturing  area in the Midwest  *Gina suggests working with the IEDC for a regional grant using WIRED as matching dollars as LEVERAGE…IEDC suggests this is allowable.  NCI would promote the Clean Energy initiative, increase awareness, seek promotional assistance through forums and develop a regional asset map.  The group would also focus on a map for the demand side of renewable energy and economic development assets.

o  $50,000-100,000

o  Edward Lowe Foundation Collaborative - Entrepreneurship Focus i.e. Economic Gardening.  See comments in the Elected Officials Leadership concept below regarding development of a Guidebook for elected officials and community stakeholders.

o  $100,000

o  New Tech High Mini Planning Grants:  The Rochester NTH program in Fulton County is solid, impacting metrics and delivering results.  Teachers and school administrators from NCI have visited the Rochester School system to understand the project based learning reform model; we believe additional schools may be positioned to adopt the process.  Ed Morrison is working with CELL and the University of Indianapolis to develop a mini-grant concept that could be funded to encourage schools that may wish to adopt NTH.  The proliferation of this model within NCI makes sense; however, select schools, must demonstrate adequate top-down support through teachers, administrators and the surrounding community.  The University of Indianapolis would create a readiness checklist for schools that may wish to implement while developing a methodology for delivering the program.  WIRED would consider several (2-5) $50,000 mini grants.
o  $100,000 -200,000

2. Other Concepts in development

o  Dual Credit Process for High School Students  -  Determine how Dual Credit policies vary throughout the NCI region and the impact on students enrolling in college.  (Students getting college credits while in high school are more apt to enter college and receive degrees.)

o  Elected Officials Leadership – Strategies being developed to encourage communication and action across city/county boundaries with a forum/training program possibility.  November timeframe.  *NCI is communicating with multiple parties to establish a broad and effective collaboration between WIRED, PCRD, the Edward Lowe Foundation, IAAC, David Bodorff, SBDCs and the Association of Cities and Towns.

 1.  The concept would develop a Guidebook to assist local elected officials and regional stakeholders by
 highlighting various tools and assets (i.e. incentives, zoning issues for home based businesses etc.) while
 developing a broader understanding of how to effectively address issues.  

 2.  The Lowe Foundation has expressed an initial interest in adding this project to their portfolio of programs.
 3.  Gina suggests that we should consider the inclusion of IAAC diploma courses, an issue recently addressed
  by Scott and Sam. 

 4.  Next Step: A one page concept will be shared with the Edward Lowe Foundation on July 24^th after the
  Policy Advisory Team meeting.

o  Quality Connected Places – The impact on economic development.  A forum is currently being developed which will include the Local Decision Maker (tool developed by Christine and Indraneel)

o   A New Proposal Idea was brought forward by Jim Tidd: Develop a project/problem based curriculum and center within NCI similar to the Challenger Center in Brownsburg, IN.  The center is supported by the Christa McAuliffe foundation and boasts a mock up of the challenger and mission control room.  5^th graders participate in a half or full day program while being exposed to team problems in both the space vehicle and mission control simulation areas.

1.  The Challenger Learning Center is perhaps the McAuliffe Center’s best-known program. In full-size mockups of both Houston’s Mission Control and a space station interior, middle-school students apply the principles of physical science to the real-time challenges of a simulated space flight.

2.  http://www.christa.org/main_page.htmhttp://www.christa.org/main_page.htmhttp://www.christa.org/main_page.htm

D   Opportunities for involvement:

1. PRF Entrepreneurship Academy has doubled in size with the majority of students from our region.  Sascha Harrell is looking for individuals to be mentors for the students.  Peggy will share details with anyone interested.  ** The program will more than double in 2008 with 80-90 participants; 103 students have been nominated. Mentors are required to support participants and will provide approximately 8 to 10 ours of service to the project.  Student participants will receive 3 credit hours toward the Purdue Entrepreneurship Certificate. 
2. Assist with developing meetings/forums, etc.
3. Spread the word
   1. Provide contact lists for elected officials
   2. Sign up for speaker’s boot camp using tools provided by Ed Morrison ‘It’s not your Grandfather’s economy’ mater