After attending regional meetings on creating a career technical education (CTE) center in McDonough County, B-PC 170 Superintendent Robert Gound described the discussions as promising for boosting local trade skills.
“When I met with the group, I couldn’t envision recommending that we commit one or two million dollars, especially if the building isn’t located in our district,” Gound said. “But I do see us committing to send students to a regional vocational center and paying tuition for their courses.”
Gound shared the perspective of MAEDCO Executive Director Kim Pierce, who emphasized the importance of regional collaboration. “Working together improves our chances of securing grant funding,” Pierce said. “A unified approach shows funders that we’re serious about building a sustainable program that benefits the whole region.”
The project’s momentum is partly driven by the future development of and potential economic revenue from a wind farm that is located on the flat land expanses around Industry, Illinois .
“This has been a really exciting conversation,” Gound said. “The possibility of new jobs in the area makes a strong case for developing local trade skills.”
“So far, everyone at the meetings has shown interest in moving forward,” he added. “I don’t have any formal requests for the board yet. I just want you to know we’re developing the concept and plan to reach out to local businesses soon to explore partnerships for the trade school.”
