INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has approved Regional Cities Initiative funding to support establishing The Enterprise Center at 907 S. Wayne St., Angola.
The funding was announced this morning by the IEDC, which finalizes regional funding approvals.
“The purpose of the Regional Cities Initiative is to encourage communities to collaborate and plan regionally for their future and attract and retain talent,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger.
The Steuben County Economic Development Corp. is in the process of converting an existing five-building, 70,000-square-foot complex into a business incubator, which will house traditional co-working space for small businesses and growing firms, as well as a dedicated industrial training facility with welding and CNC machinery training equipment. Located on 4.5 acres half a mile south of Angola’s Public Square, the Enterprise Center will be nimble enough to address employers’ needs while partnering with training providers, a news release from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. said.
The project is expected to cost nearly $1.9 million. It has been approved for $323,000 in RDA funding, which was approved locally earlier this year.
Phase one of the three-phase project focuses on the creation of the training center, which includes building out two classrooms and office space, installing computer stations and refurbishing the parking and grounds.
Within the training center, the facility will house two CNC lathes and two CNC mills along with four CNC simulators. The facility will also include ten welding stations, additional space for future equipment needs, as well as connections to the Indiana Metropolitan Area Network, a fiber network that’s under the umbrella of the Steuben County Community Foundation.
“The Enterprise Center was in the original application for the Regional Development Authority. After some refocusing on our application, it was submitted and approved by the RDA. It has now been approved by the IEDC. We are very excited to move forward and with these funds, we will be able to provide the training for incumbent and new employees for a better quality of life in Steuben County and Northeast Indiana. This is just the beginning for The Enterprise Center, now just watch us grow! Thank you IEDC,” said Craig Ralston, board president of the SCEDC.
“As an economic development practitioner, I am continuously building our community assets to make Steuben County businesses and communities stronger and more attractive. The Enterprise Center, from a workforce development focus, does this and more! We are excited about the opportunities that will come with a facility like this,” said Isaac Lee, SCEDC executive director.