“The message was clear from our employers in the region,” said Deskins. “When we executed a job market study we found a dramatic need in the aerospace and aviation arenas for career pathways related to manufacturing, engineering and information technology. We are blessed that the communities we serve believe in the quality of our training programs and voted for this new facility that will continue developing the local workforce.”
Construction has begun at the new site located south of Xenia at the juncture of U.S. Route 35, State Route 68 and Union Road. The property was purchased from a private owner and its location is centrally located for the majority of career center students.
When completed, the two-story building will encompass 264,831 square feet and will feature the most modern technologies including virtual reality and simulated training.
“The beauty of a career-technical education is that students are differently engaged in hands-on learning and at the same time, we are able to be flexible to meet the demands of employers in a changing economy,” added Deskins. “Over our 52-year history, Greene County Career Center programs have been added, refocused or reduced due to changes in the job market. Each of our programs convenes advisory committees of industry experts to examine curriculum, equipment and instructional needs. This critical input is the driving force for schools like Greene County Career Center being able to build the workforce.”
Partnerships extend beyond advisory committees. Organizations like the Dayton Regional Manufacturers Association are involved in long-term planning. Locally, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers provides internship and apprenticeship positions for current students and alumni as do various other trade organizations.
“Career-technical education is back at the forefront of discussion nationally and is an essential part of Greene County’s workforce,” said Deskins. “Our project has drawn attention from other state,s and we’re proud that we can forge creative and innovative educational opportunities that we hope can also be a guiding light for other schools throughout the state.”
About the Author