(Michigan City, IN) The Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS) school board announced this evening the repurposing of the former Elston High School into the new “Elston Opportunity Hub.” This transformation is the result of a partnership between the MCAS school board and NWI Works, which aims to make effective use of the previously underutilized 320,000-square-foot facility. The City of Michigan City has supported and partially funded the startup phases of this development.

NWI Works Inc. is a collaborative organization representing various regional not-for-profit institutions in Northwest Indiana. These entities include the Center of Workforce Innovations, Goodwill Industries of Michiana, United Way Northwest Indiana, Regional Care Group, CoAction, and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.  NWI Works is dedicated to delivering workforce development resources to households through a network of opportunity hubs across Northwest Indiana. The collaboration focuses on preparing unemployed and underemployed residents for available job opportunities and on creating career pathways that lead to household prosperity.

The Elston Opportunity Hub will continue to host MCAS classes for students while utilizing vacant space to offer an array of services. Through the partnership, the Elston Opportunity Hub will offer career-readiness programs, educational workshops, and hands-on training sessions tailored to the local community’s needs. Residents will have access to job placement assistance, career counseling, and resources to help them thrive in a competitive job market. These initiatives are intended to promote economic growth and stability for Michigan City families.

According to Lisa Daugherty, CEO of NWI Works, “the partnership with MCAS leadership is a fortunate opportunity to extend Elston’s legacy in the community. The central location of Elston makes it accessible for Michigan City residents to benefit from a wide range of services, all designed to prepare them for economic opportunity and a better quality of life.”

MCAS will retain full ownership of the Elston site and will approve leases presented by NWI Works for the remaining spaces.  The Center of Workforce Innovations www.cwicorp.com  and WorkOne www.in.gov/dwd/workonenwi/job-seekers have already opened offices at Elston and can be accessed from the Detroit Street entrance for services.  Goodwill and other workforce and community service providers will move in next year, once construction of initial tenant spaces is complete.

Michigan City and the surrounding La Porte County employers generate nearly 2,900 job openings annually across construction, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, hospitality, IT, and professional services. To meet this demand, the Elston Opportunity Hub aims to support at least 1,200–1,600 trainees in the start-up phase, aligned to employer-validated career pathways and supported by integrated community services to directly remove barriers to work.

Dr. Wendel McCollum, superintendent of MCAS, states, “NWI Works will, over a five-year period, infill the vacant and underutilized Elston Campus space.  It will master lease the campus, meeting important objectives for us such as: establishing a dynamic Opportunity Hub that serves Michigan City households; reducing MCAS operations and maintenance costs; creating a broader range of effective training opportunities for resulting in a local labor force prepared to take advantage of higher wage jobs – while at the same time our school corporation continues to meet the needs of MCAS students.  This is a win-win solution for the Elston heritage and Michigan City families.”

Employers and residents interested in learning more about opportunities at the Elston Opportunity Hub should visit www.nwiworks.org.  

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ABOUT NWI WORKS

NWI Works Inc. drives forward opportunity hub initiatives in Northwest Indiana while convening and fostering collaboration among local and regional organizations to ensure that opportunity hubs evolve into vibrant centers of community engagement and workforce advancement. This approach not only supports the ongoing missions of property owners, it also leverages partnerships to maximize resource efficiency, enhance the breadth of services available, and position more densely populated and distressed neighborhoods as an essential asset for both students and area residents seeking personal and professional growth. As hubs welcome additional partners and complete tenant improvements, it will stand as a model for innovative community development and sustainable use of public spaces, further reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of opportunity in Northwest Indiana communities. www.nwiworks.org