VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce members came together Thursday morning at Terre Haute North High School for an “Education Update.”
32,061 students make up the combined student population enrolled in Vigo County’s five higher education institutions, including Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Saint Mary of the Woods College, and Ivy Tech Community College plus K-12 students at Vigo County School Corporation.
“Education serves an amazing role, but really on two fronts,” Kristin Craig, Executive Director, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. It’s helping us develop our youth and have great people come out of our community but it’s also really a money driver of how we’re moving forward and how we should look at as we consider further pursuit.”
Craig addressed an audience Thursday at the organization’s first education update, highlighting the pillars of the meeting, including talent attraction and retention, economic impact, and collaboration.
Collaboration was a topic woven through each official’s message.
“They work together incredibly well and try and develop that seamless pipeline,” Craig said. “Whether it be for students, whether it be for the workforce in the community, economic development.”
President of Rose-Hulman, Robert Coons said he’s encouraged by the collaboration, “I’ve been around in Terre Haute a long time, that hasn’t always been the case, but it is the case today. And so I think the future looks bright for us in terms of finding ways to further collaborate to help all four schools and the K-12 system.”
Craig said the economic impact of Vigo County’s K-12 system and high education cannot be undervalued.
“That is one of the largest economic drivers in our community. One of the largest workforce drivers in our community,” Craig said.
With a collective of over 4,700 employees and a total payroll of more than 256 million dollars, education is one of the largest employers in Vigo County.
“Recruitment from our perspective, for faculty and staff, it’s really critical that we have a healthy K-12 system,” Coons said. “So, I think anything we can do as a collaborative as the four colleges and K-12, to help our K-12 system and be supportive is something I’m really a fan of,” he added.
“It really gives me pride in our community and gratitude for what they’re doing and optimism for what we can continue having all of them working together,” Craig said.
When it comes to education, Craig said that Vigo County is the envy of several areas in the state.
“Despite that fact that we hear how well Ft. Wayne or how well Evansville’s doing, they still don’t have the educational assets that we have,” Craig said. “So, I think that if we can really learn to leverage that and really learn to support them and help them grow and help them grow our community, that’s where we’re going to see the real success.”
You can learn more about the “Education Update” by clicking here.
