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Opportunity Hub team outlines workforce training, $3.7M near‑term construction and plans to repurpose AK Smith building
Summary
Project leaders told the redevelopment commission that the Alanson Opportunity Hub will launch a summer 'fast track' boot camp and begin construction later this month on initial spaces with roughly $3.7 million in near‑term investment; the hub aims to link training, employer partnerships and reuse of the AK Smith campus.
Leadership for the Alanson Opportunity Hub presented progress May 11 and thanked the commission for earlier redevelopment support that kept the project moving during a funding delay.
Lisa Dougherty (Northwest Indiana Works) and Shelley Moore (Insight Strategic Concepts) described the hub’s unified intake system, partner composition (WorkOne, Goodwill, United Way, Ivy Tech and others), and a "fast track to top jobs" boot camp: 16 classes (four hours per session, four days a week for four weeks) focused on work‑readiness, soft skills and employer engagement. Participants will receive a stipend and move into credentialed pathways and employer connections.
Mike Higbee (OBE Advisors) reviewed construction timing and budget: design and construction drawings are complete, construction will begin in June on Community Action spaces and AK Smith retrofit work, and the near‑term construction investment is about $3,700,000. He said AK Smith and Building A together represent roughly $22,000,000 of project investment in the near term and the overall campus repurposing could total $20–35 million over five to eight years. The project team said the operations model targets self‑sufficiency within three to four years with operations costs projected near $2 million annually to be covered by tenant revenues and activities.
Commissioners asked about local hiring and contractor participation; the construction manager will push for local labor as bids are issued. A resident speaker praised public–private leverage but asked whether the hub would duplicate uses at Central School; presenters said the hub will complement existing assets and stressed collaboration with local partners.
Project leaders will make renderings and progress updates available to the commission and report back later in the summer with an audit of funds expended and accomplishments.
