EVANSVILLE, IN — Ivy Tech Evansville and Pike County Progress Partners have announced a collaboration with the Elmer Buchta Entrepreneurship & Technology Center to offer education and training to the area. The center is located on I-69 and serves not only Pike County, but also the surrounding counties. 

The Center is a business incubator and training facility in Pike County, IN, on the I-69 corridor on State Road 67. The Center, which opened in March this year, started about seven years ago and is aimed at creating a place that students can use for prototype development. 

The announcement came at a news conference on Monday, May 23, at the Center. 

“Ivy Tech will work closely with Indianapolis Power & Light Petersburg Generating Station, the Pike County School Corporation, and other community partners to determine the workforce training needs, and create opportunities for local employers and residents,” said Ivy Tech Chancellor Daniela Vidal. “These classes will focus on supporting both existing and emerging industry in Southwest Indiana, including renewable energy.” 

“As President of the Pike County Economic Development Corporation, I am so proud of the work that many have done to establish this partnership with Ivy Tech at the Elmer Buchta Tech Center, said Mark Flint, president of the Pike County EDC. “To offer classes in Pike County at our new facility helps establish the longevity of the Tech center as well as benefiting our people in Pike County and surrounding Counties. We look forward to having many classes there in the near future as well.”

“Today is the beginning of a new and bright chapter for Pike County,” said Ashley Willis, executive director of the Tech center. “Pike County Economic Development Corporation’s mission is to attract new business and create jobs. To supply the needed and ever-changing jobs for our region, we must have skilled talent. I am excited about our partnership with Ivy Tech as we develop our workforce engine and offer these opportunities to Pike County and our region. We look forward to working with Ivy Tech.” 

Ivy Tech classes at the Center will begin in August. Scholarship opportunities are available through the charitable giving of Ivy Tech donors. 

Anyone interested in requesting training that is needed for the area, or classes that will be available should contact John Snowden, site director of the Princeton Career & Technology Center, at 812-385-8495. 

About Ivy Tech Community College 

Ivy Tech Community College serves communities across Indiana, providing world-class education and driving economic transformation. It is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering high-value degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its communities, along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.