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St. Joseph County is the largest County in Indiana without a Career Center. With the growing need for skilled workers, there has been a lot of discussion about the need to develop such a center in our area. Last year, two proposals emerged in the original call for potential READI (Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative) projects. The Chamber has taken a leadership role in this discussion to determine need and develop a unified St. Joseph County plan.
We have contracted with enFocus to gather baseline data on existing CTE programs and the current demand/interest in new programs within the potential "feeder" high schools in St. Joseph County. While the planning process dovetails nicely with the work being done by the South Bend Community School Corporation, the Chamber believes the scope needs to be broader and that it is necessary to really understand the demand/supply and level of interest in partnering to meet any existing and emerging needs.
The Chamber wants to ensure any center has a demonstrated need, is sustainable, meets the needs of businesses both today and in the future, and provides great opportunities for students seeking opportunities in various careers. The project is in its early stages as stakeholder meetings and information gathering have just begun.
If you have an interest in learning more about the planning for a center, or have thoughts you’d like to share, please email Chamber President & CEO Jeff Rea at [email protected].
