The Amplify Hancock facility is planned to be 90,000-100,000 square-foot, with room for expansion in the future.
HANCOCK COUNTY — Amplify Hancock, an innovation and education facility planned to be completed in 2026, recently got approved to receive $1.4 million from the state.
In a press release from Hancock EDC, CR 300N and CR 200W is where the facility is planned to be built, with the intentions of creating an integrated workforce for multi-use learning and innovation, a center fusing together education, private industry and the community.
In phase one, the facility is planned to be 90,000-100,000 square-foot when it opens in 2026, but will also be expandable in the future.
This would allow a place for Hancock County students to go for their career and technical education, rather than traveling to locations outside the county such as Marion County or Henry County. Amplify Hancock would house the Hancock County Career Center or HC3 program which would allow students in grades 9-12 a place to go for their programming.
“I’m most looking forward to high school students not having to leave the county to go seek vocational education or CTE education…” senior vice president of Hancock Health Rob Matt said. “That’s probably my primary driver and biggest hope.”
Alongside HC3, Amplify Hancock plans to house educational programming for adults as well.
In the press release, it stated an analysis was done from Indy Partnership, an arm of the Indy Chamber, and showed that Hancock County makes up 4% of the Indy region, and has seen high population and job growth in the last 10 years.
Some of the possible programming held at the facility to help extend education and career opportunities include; radiology, HVAC, electric, carpentry, welding, criminal justice, medical assisting, certified nursing assistant, dental careers, emergency medical services, aviation and more.
The $1.4 million will come from the Regional and Economic Acceleration Development Initiative, also known as READI funds. According to the press release, those funds are a part of the $5 million that was awarded to the 70-40 Greater Mt. Comfort Corridor READI Region, which is made up of representatives and projects in Hancock and Marion counties.
As far as determining the exact size of what the facility will be, they are still looking into what will all be included in phase one as far as programming. That will then affect the cost and remainder of the funding gap.
As far as next steps for Amplify Hancock, those include the schematic design for the facility, and project delivery method, and bonding.
“I think it’s a wonderful merger of county government, private industry and schools all coming together to satisfy an identified need in the community,” Matt said.
