Innovation Center to host entrepreneurship, dual-enrollment and industry partnerships, board told

Sumner County School Board members were briefed Oct. 14 on progress at the district’s Innovation Center and early tenant partnerships that aim to provide dual-enrollment opportunities, entrepreneurship boot camps and industry mentorship for students.

Staff said the district took occupancy Aug. 1 and is completing infrastructure work (including telecom installations) to open classrooms and conference space. The Innovation Center will offer classes and training that complement high-school curricula — examples cited included criminal-justice training with the sheriff’s office, aviation coursework, Lean Six Sigma and professional-skills instruction tied to civic engagement.

District leaders described an early agreement with a health-sector venture-capital firm that runs a 12-week accelerator and intends to base a fall and spring cohort at the Innovation Center. Staff said the firm will bring early-stage entrepreneurs through a boot camp and mentorship sequence and will invite students to participate in project work, giving students exposure to product development, fundraising, professional skills and startup operations.

Staff also outlined plans to host sheriff’s-office trainings and to use Innovation Center space for community and industry partnerships that could generate revenue and broaden student opportunities. Trustees requested regular updates and asked staff to arrange further tours and to bring student participants to future board meetings so trustees could hear student presentations about their projects.

Staff cautioned that many details remain in development but said the center is set to begin regular programming in the coming weeks and months, with additional announcements planned once tenant agreements and schedules are finalized.