READI for: The Ivy Tech Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing

It will be the glue that holds everything together. That is the vision for Ivy Tech’s Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing (CEAM). It is designed to bring industry, education, talent, and community together with a shared goal of fostering advanced manufacturing in the local community.

According to Ethan Heicher, interim chancellor for Ivy Tech Community College’s Kokomo campus, nearly everything already is in place to launch the CEAM. Now, it is just a matter of securing funding. That is where the READI grant comes into play.

“We want be the hub to bring together industry, new technology, educational pathways and partnerships, whether that is with K-12 partners or higher education,” said Heicher. “It’s the focal point that can communicate availability and potential partnerships, feature new technology, offer potential training for the partners, connecting people with new technology and industry needs. It’s about bringing it all together.”

Ivy Tech Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing

Project estimate: $3 million

Local investment: $1.5 million

READI request: $1.5 million

Ivy Tech is requesting $1,5 million from the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) to create the CEAM. The college will provide office space, demonstrations, classrooms, and other facilities as its match. It also will provide training through its Career Coaching and Employer Connections program.

“We will use (the READI grant) for marketing and communication needs to move the plan forward,” said Heicher. “A considerable amount of it will be used around training needs as they manifest themselves, equipment, making sure we have the talent pipeline. These are the gaps that the READI grant will try to address.”

In its pitch to the Indiana Department of Economic Development, Ivy Tech stated that the CEAM “will serve as the core branding effort to showcase the region’s focus on the importance of the advanced manufacturing industry for stability and growth of the North Central Region’s economy. The center will also act as a ‘clearinghouse’ for CEAM associates, directing current and future programs and resources toward CEAM associates.”

Heicher explained that the Kokomo campus is the best fit for what is a regional effort because so many of the needed assets are in place here.

“Our economy locally is so centered around advanced manufacturing,” said Heicher. “We have all the players available. We have industry partners and educational partners. We have entities wanting to feature advanced technology that will become part of the wave that is Industry 4.0.

“We needed a hub to bring all of it together. It’s not about the component parts. It’s about lining everything up and going in the right direction, making sure the connections are made and the needs are met.”

The CEAM also complements other READI grant proposals, such as Ivy Tech’s Industry 4.0 training lab, the Howard County industrial park, Indiana University Kokomo’s proposed Innovation Hall, and Ivy Tech’s College Completion Pathways scholarship endowment.