DCF Spearheads EcO15 Education Initiative

NEWS RELEASE

                                                                                            Contact: Fred McCarter (812) 539-4115

For Immediate Release 

DEARBORN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SPEARHEADS EDUCATION INTIATIVE MADE POSSIBLE BY LILLY GRANT

Grant Monies Aimed At Advanced Manufacturing Education

LAWRENCEBURG, INDIANA, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 – A $38 million education and training grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to two Columbus-based organizations is expected to bring $900,000 in grants focused on improving advanced manufacturing education in Dearborn County.

The Dearborn Community Foundation Inc. (DCF) expects to receive up to $900,000 over a three-year period to fund an Economic Opportunities 2015 (EcO15) coordinator and administrative assistant positions and to support and expand advanced manufacturing education in the county, said Fred McCarter, DCF Executive Director.

The Community Education Coalition, Columbus, received $26 million of the Lilly Endowment grant with $12 million being awarded to the Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County for the program that covers 10 Southeastern Indiana counties. The two organizations are providing leadership, oversight and management support services for the regionally-focused initiative.

The EcO15 programs will teach skills needed for an influx of jobs primarily in advanced manufacturing but also in healthcare services and hospitality and tourism in the Southeastern Indiana region. The region, based on an Indiana Department of Workforce Development guideline, consists of Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties.

Among growing advanced-manufacturing job opportunities in the 10-county region are a Honda automobile manufacturing plant in Greensburg and a new engine manufacturing operation at Cummins in Columbus.

“We are certainly gratified that the Community Education Coalition and the Heritage Fund sought this significant grant from Lilly Endowment as a regional initiative,” said Fred McCarter. “And, of course, we appreciate yet another significant grant from Lilly Endowment that puts community foundations in a position to play the role of convener in our communities.”

In August, DCF hired retired bank executive Mark Neff, Aurora, as the EcO15 Coordinator for Dearborn County. Neff amassed 27 years of experience in the local banking industry before retiring in 2004. At retirement, he served as Regional President & Operations Liaison with the Community Bank Operations of Indiana and Ohio Community Bank Division of U.S. Bank.

Neff’s involvement in the community is vast, McCarter said. He is Past President of the Board of Directors of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce and recently has served as its Manager of Government Affairs. Mark also served many years on the City of Aurora Parks and Recreation Board and he serves as Chairman of the St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Aurora, Finance Commission. From 2005 to 2008, Neff served as Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, State Trustee.

DCF has already established an impressive nine-member EcO15 Task Force representing county educators, ranging from middle school to Ivy Tech Community College, along with manufacturers and economic development professionals to work on an advanced manufacturing proposal for Dearborn County, McCarter said. Neff and task force are already hard at work formulating the best plan for Dearborn County to expand upon and to improve advanced manufacturing education in our community, he said. 

“Mark’s vast experience and professionalism combined with his involvement in the community serve him well in this role as EcO15 Coordinator,” McCarter said. “His passion to make a difference in our community makes him a great fit at the Foundation.”

Members of Dearborn County’s EcO15 Task Force are: Tami Bovard, HR Consultant at AEP/Indiana Michigan Power Company, Lawrenceburg; Tom Book, Superintendent of South Dearborn Community School Corporation; Richard Brock, General Manager of Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana LLC; Karl Galey, Principle of Greendale Middle School; Mark Graver, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Ivy Tech Community College in Lawrenceburg; Marty Hon, Dearborn County’s representative on the Region 9 Workforce Development Board; Fred McCarter, Executive Director of DCF; ; John Roeder, Superintendent of Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation; and, Michael Rozow Jr,, President of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce and the Dearborn County Economic Development Initiative.

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