Crowder College and the Joplin Chamber Foundation inked a Memorandum of Understanding and a lease agreement as Crowder prepares to offer training programs at the Joplin Advanced Training and Technology Center (ATTC).
The Joplin ATTC will house Crowder College certificate programs to help students gain skills necessary to obtain employment in high demand areas. Certificates offered will include: Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD), Information Technology-Microsoft Imagine Academy, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Welding, and plans for future Community Health courses.
Premier welding classes will compete with private welding school curriculums at a fraction of the cost.
Crowder will offer condensed schedules so a student can complete certificate in one semester or the premier welding certificate in two semesters.
“This training is set up to assist those wanting to enter a career in a short period of time. The classes focus on getting the students in, trained and ready for employment,” stated Melissa Smith, Director of Joplin ATTC, Crowder College.
"This partnership is exactly what we need to be doing to provide training to our area communities and advance our state's economy. Crowder College could not fund a project of this nature without partnership. The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the City of Joplin's investment in the equipment and facility makes this expansion of career and technical education a reality. Crowder College's efforts will focus on meeting the needs of area industry and enhancing employment opportunities through advanced training,” stated Dr. Jennifer Methvin, Crowder College President.
The Joplin Chamber Foundation led the effort to secure the building and provide the equipment that brings the Crowder programs to Joplin. The building, located in downtown Joplin, was a former warehouse that was used by Franklin Tech, a part of the Joplin Schools, for several years after the 2011 tornado while a new high school was being built.
“Our Chamber saw the opportunity to use the investment already made in making the building a training center and expand the offerings to better serve the training needs for companies and our residents. With Crowder committed to be the key training partner, we were able to obtain financial support from the City of Joplin to acquire and equip this facility,” noted Rob O’Brian, President of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. “While Crowder was committed from day one, it is great to formalize the partnership into an MOU setting the base of classes that will be offered and the lease for the space,” O’Brian added.
The event also provided the opportunity to reaffirm the role the Workforce Innovation Board has in the space as well. The WIB is leasing the offices in the building, to provide its administrative services in helping people assess job opportunities and the current skills they have to seek jobs. They are also acting as the official front office for the full ATTC, providing reception services and guiding visitors to the right place.
The vision of the Chamber Foundation is to use the ATTC not only to bring exceptional Crowder training to the Joplin area, but to also provide space for small start up businesses and growing firms. The building will have several thousand feet of office and flex space for companies as an extension of the long running Newman Innovation Center nearby. It will also have a shared culinary kitchen and makerspace for people to create new manufactured and software ideas.
“The City of Joplin is proud that it could utilize some of its federal disaster recovery monies in partnering with the Chamber Foundation to create this space for our area,” noted Mayor Mike Seibert.
“While we are using the lion’s share of the recovery funds to rebuild areas damaged by the tornado nearly six years ago, we also saw the great opportunity to provide new training space and classes to support our existing companies and help our residents get the skills they need to obtain and keep the good jobs we already have in our community,” Mayor Seibert added.
The Advanced Training and Technology Center is in the final stages of completion. The WIB is already in its space and two tenants have already taken office space. The Crowder College classes will begin in August of this year, once all equipment is in. However, enrollment for the classes is now open.
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