Civil and Municipal - Jan 2024

hopes to tap into neighboring Boone County’s LEAP Program, a 9,000-acre Innovation District centered around the City of Lebanon’s Tech Corridor that is designed to attract thousands of new workers over the next several years to the area’s innovative and emerging industries.“The new recruits may not work here, but if we have the housing and amenities they might live and play here,” she muses. EDUCATING ITS EMERGING WORKFORCE Frankfort is also looking toward growing and educating its own workforce and already has several partners on board that are keen to connect with its residents of all ages. One of those partners is called The Crossing, an alternative educational institution who’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship empowers struggling high school students to become contributing members of the community through rigorous academics, job-training career pathways, and faith-based character education.“The Crossing is an amazing place,” says Sheets. “Some of the kids in our community would probably not have graduated from school had they not had the opportunity to go to Crossing. I’m a huge supporter of all it does.” A major initiative in Frankfort is the proposed “Cradle to Career” Tech Center that many local partners, including the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Frankfort, Bauer Family Resources, the United Way for Clinton County, Clinton County Government, Ivy Tech Community College, Frankfort Community Schools, the Clinton Prairie School Corporation, the Town of Rossville, Clinton Central Schools, and private investments from area industry, business, individuals ,and organizations, are attempting to create on the campus of Frankfort High School. When completed, the Cradle to Career Tech Center would combine childcare and child education with a secondary technical education complex for all Clinton County students. Its Career Academy would provide courses in many areas of workforce development including: Construction, Welding, Nursing ,Automotive, Manufacturing, Criminal Justice, Fire Rescue, Carpentry, Emergency Medical Services, Communication TV/Radio, Agriculture, Information Technology, Hospitality/Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Excavation and Site Development WWW.FKCONST.COM and other areas according to necessity and demand. “It’s not shovel ready yet, but we’re working on it; we’re fundraising for it,” Sheets relates.“We’re trying to have our residents ready to work for our local companies because some don’t go on to college or a career school. This will give them an opportunity to find something that they would like to do locally because we want them to stay here. I think it’s going to be a great thing for our community.” MOVING AHEAD WHILE KEEPING IT REAL Going forward, both city administrators have some agenda items that they wish to pursue over the next few years. Black says that she wants to help streamline the processes for new businesses wishing to set up shop in Frankfort.“Your small businesses are the backbone of your community,” she states.“But not everyone who opens a small business understands all the steps they need to go through to get their permitting and their certificate of occupancy. I want to make sure that we’re making it easy for them; making sure they know all the steps to get from A to B in order to open a brick and mortar business. So, 139 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 01 FRANKFORT, IN