MINGO JUNCTION — A groundbreaking ceremony has been set to officially kick off the start of the new Indian Creek Community Innovation Center with activities planned for June 26.

District, community, state and construction officials are expected to gather at the site located at the entrance of the Indian Creek Middle School campus in Mingo Junction at 5 p.m. prior to the regular monthly school board meeting. Superintendent T.C. Chappelear said representatives of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, Hammond Construction, Sol-Harris/Day Architecture and community partners including the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, Jefferson County Community Action Council and WVU Medicine were invited to participate in the festivities to launch the estimated $6.5 million project.

Plans are to construct a one-story, 14,000-square-foot building near Hills Elementary and ICMS that will include space for health, education and workforce development services. AEP has been placing utility lines this summer and construction should start around year’s end, while the site should be in operation during the 2026-27 school year.

Chappelear said the project will provide a multitude of benefits for the community.

“I’m excited. I think it’s going to provide a lot of benefits to the community and throughout the county, especially with the express care since Mingo Junction doesn’t have a health care provider,” he said. “We feel like we’re providing health care to an underserved population.”

He added that WVU Medicine will serve as medical partner and offer a walk-in clinic with express care services, but leaders were still reviewing options to provide a day treatment program for students in grades K-8. Additionally, JCESC’s Quest Center will serve students from Jefferson and Harrison counties and the CAC will provide an Ohio Means Jobs access point with resume assistance, life skills training and other resources for adults and dislocated workers.

Indian Creek was among 14 recipients of the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers grant program that was established with the Ohio General Assembly and received $6,515,272 for its center. North Canton-based SHP serves as the design professional with Hammond of Akron named construction manager for the project.