Contributed CENTER COMING — The stage is being set for construction of the $6.5 million Jefferson County Community Innovation Center at the Indian Creek Middle School campus in Mingo Junction.

MINGO JUNCTION — Beyond the orange fencing and yellow caution tape, the stage is being set for the new Jefferson County Innovation Center near Hills Elementary School in Mingo Junction.

The land has been cleared with utilities placed to make way for the 14,000-square-foot, one-story building which will house express care services, an alternative school and a job assistance program, as well as a day treatment facility for students in grades K-8. State and local officials gathered to officially break ground in June on the estimated $6.5 million project, which was funded with an Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Grant program and administered through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The Indian Creek Local School District was among 14 recipients to share among an $88 million allocation while North Canton-based Sol-Harris/Day Architecture serves as the design professional with Hammond Construction of Akron as construction manager.

SHP and Hammond are familiar with the district since they were responsible for the $63 million construction project at Indian Creek High School and Cross Creek Elementary, in addition to renovations at Hills. The latest prospect was born when federal funding became available in 2022 and Ohio officials brainstormed how to utilize the windfall. Discussions turned to helping communities long-term during the COVID pandemic, particularly by having workforce and medical care in one place. Following a slew of applications exceeding $800 million, officials whittled down the number to roughly a dozen submissions and Indian Creek made the final cut.

The facility is located at the entrance of the Indian Creek Middle School campus and will include services in partnership with WVU Medicine, the Jefferson County Educational Service Center and the Jefferson County Community Action Council. Superintendent T.C. Chappelear said community members will see progress being made over the next few months.

“They are going to be putting in the footers and we should see the block going up in September,” Chappelear added. “Hopefully it will be under roof by December and they will work through the winter. We’re on schedule to be in the building by next August.”

Once it is finished, WVU Medicine will offer a walk-in clinic while the JCESC’s Quest Center will serve students from Jefferson and Harrison counties, plus JCCAC will provide an Ohio Means Jobs access point with resume assistance, life skills training and other resources for adults and dislocated workers. Chappelear said the site will support students and the community, giving them access to services that are greatly needed.

“It’s exciting. We’re getting a lot of positive feedback from community members about the express care and having medical care in Mingo,” he commented. “We’re also excited about the job program and the services available to students throughout Jefferson County.”