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Resident outlines 'Steamery' plan for Helmsburg technology and community labs
Summary
A Helmsburg resident presented the "Steamery," a phased proposal to convert warehouse space into STEAM labs (tech, culinary, art, music, e-gaming) and community workspaces; she estimated a roughly $250,000 structural build-out and said the project seeks partnership, not district funding.
A Helmsburg resident presented a proposal to create the "Steamery," a community STEAM lab and programming center, during the Brown County School Corporation meeting, outlining learning spaces for students and adults and an estimated structural build-out cost of about $250,000.
The resident said the Steamery grew from a school coding club and early conversations with local partners. "It's called the Steamery," she told the board, describing plans for a technology lab, a culinary lab, art and music studios, an e-gaming room and workspaces that could support robotics practice, career-readiness training and tourism-related events. She said available warehouse space includes roughly 8,800 square feet, with portions currently used for storage.
The presentation emphasized partnerships and long-term sustainability. The resident named local contacts involved in planning and marketing, saying community volunteers and a small board are organizing programming. She said the project is being planned in three phases—initial fundraising and structural build-out, phased lab construction, and establishing sustainable operations—and gave an estimate that the first phase (restrooms, elevator, hallway work and structure upgrades) would cost "about 250,000." The resident added, "We're not asking for any funding from the schools," and said the group seeks partnership and programming collaboration with the district.
Board members listened and offered brief supportive remarks but did not take formal action on the proposal during the meeting. The presenter said an event is scheduled the following day and offered to share blueprints and renderings with the district and the community.
