Community Center Gaining Momentum
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGreater Lafayette Commerce says a multi-million dollar building to be constructed on the Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette campus will be an opportunity to connect education, youth development and health and wellness. Officials say nearly $12 million has been raised for the project. In addition to college classes, the Intersection Connection will house YMCA and Junior Achievement programs as well as an Indiana University Health Arnett clinical practice.
The center will give Ivy Tech students an affordable child care option.
June 10, 2014
News Release
Lafayette, Ind. — The Intersection Connection, the group working to further complementary youth development, higher education, workforce development, financial literacy, and health and wellness services in a multi-tenant, multi-use building to be constructed on the Ivy Tech Community College – Lafayette campus, announced Tuesday that fundraising has reached a milestone.
So far, more than $11.9 million in funds have been pledged by numerous benefactors. The figure was announced at a news conference Tuesday, June 10, at Greater Lafayette Commerce, by a lineup of youth who held signs that together revealed the total: $11,928,593.05.
“Once again, Greater Lafayette is demonstrating what can happen when we work together for the good of all,” said Joe Seaman, president and chief executive officer of Greater Lafayette Commerce.
A 120,000-square-foot building is planned, to be occupied by the YMCA, Junior Achievement and an Indiana University Health Arnett clinical practice. Each is a major partner in The Intersection Connection, along with Greater Lafayette Commerce and others.
“This new building will house an all-new YMCA, with expanded, state-of-the-art facilities and community-based programs,” said Paul Cramer, YMCA executive director. “The new facility will showcase a prime time/family time center, teen room, childcare, family aquatic center and so much more. It will be the place families will gravitate to, to spend time together and strengthen relationships.”
“This adds a new level of 'community' to Ivy Tech Community College – Lafayette,” said Chancellor David Bathe. “It will be a place where our students can access quality childcare, partake in recreation and health-centered programs, connect in vibrant activities, and receive healthcare. It will make our campus more vibrant. And it will encourage enrollment, retention, graduation and student success.”
The facility will mark a first for Junior Achievement, which will occupy about 8,000 square feet, said board member Rick Davis. “We will open two new local educational and experiential programs for youth: BizTown and Finance Park. These will provide real, hands-on and engaging learning opportunities for our young people.”
BizTown recreates a town, with 14 businesses where 4th and 5th graders learn how an economy works by running businesses, operating a government and working together to create a successful community. In Finance Park, 8th and 9th graders assume life roles, tackling hands-on lessons in real-life individual and family budgets, planning their careers and setting future financial goals.
Indiana University Health Arnett will lease approximately 10,000 square feet of space in the new building, said Michelle Kreinbrook, director of marketing and communications. “This will give us a new, south-side location to provide healthcare services that will complement the wellness and family care programs and activities of the YMCA as well as the lifelong learning environment promoted by Ivy Tech. This represents a cooperative step in shared space and programming, and an investment in youth, families and adults.”
Tippecanoe County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh said, “This is the next step – and a giant one – in advancing our community of choice efforts.”
Lafayette mayor Tony Roswarski said, “The Intersection Connection and this building project are visions realized and expanding. Joining hands, working together and looking to the future, especially when we consider the children in our community, means we are a community committed to the greater good.”
A construction timeline, building specifics and final cost are in the planning stages. The building is slated for part of a 21-acre site south of the current Ivy Tech campus. The land was acquired by Ivy Tech Foundation and is currently occupied by Point East Mobile Home Park.
About The Intersection Connection. Founded in 2007, The Intersection Connection is a collaboration among community organizations begun to co-locate complementary youth development, higher education, financial literacy, and health and wellness services on the Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette campus.
About Greater Lafayette Commerce.
Headquartered at 337 Columbia St. in Lafayette, Greater Lafayette Commerce (www.greaterlafayettecommerce.com), whose roots go back more than 85 years, is a nonprofit membership organization supported by local businesses, industries and governments. Its mission is to advance economic and community prosperity for a superior quality of life.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 150,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
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About Junior Achievement
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students from kindergarten through 12th grade about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs that show students how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, create jobs and apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. JA Worldwide reaches 9.7 million students annually, taught by volunteers in the United States and 122 other countries.
Junior Achievement BizTown sites are in some 30 communities, including Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana; Finance Park sites are in some 28 communities, also including Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana. Several other communities have mobile BizTown and/or mobile Finance Park operations. Junior Achievement of Greater Lafayette, with offices at Jenks Rest in Columbian Park, was founded in 1956 by the late J. Kirby Risk and the late Dr. William Sholty, with initial funding from the Tippecanoe Management Association. It began with the original student-run company program for high school students, and in 1975 was part of the national pilot for programming at high schools. In the 1980s, it added programming for elementary schools. In 1984, Benton County joined Tippecanoe County in its service area. More than 240 volunteers support local Junior Achievement programs.
About the YMCA
The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Regardless of age, income or background, the Y’s focus is to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.
Lafayette was one of the first U.S. cities to organize a YMCA. It opened in 1889 at the corner of Fifth and South streets and housed a gym, baths, parlors and reading rooms. Purdue University Dean Emeritus Stanley Coulter was the first president. In 1907 a new, three-story YMCA on Seventh Street wa