Funding for JJCL gets OK (02/13/2009)

The John Jay Center for Learning got the nod this morning to receive $50,000 in development funds from the county.

The Jay County Economic Development Income Tax Advisory Board unanimously approved use of EDIT money to support Portland's community college. The $50,000, which comes from taxes set aside for the purpose of development, will make up about 8 percent of the learning center's $621,000 operating budget.

EDIT money is one of the funding sources from local taxing units supporting John Jay, with others including the Jay School Corporation, $80,000; the Jay County Commissioners, $25,000; and the City of Portland, $10,000.

John Jay Center for Learning has received EDIT funding for several years, but the use was never adopted as part of the county's Capital Improvement Plan governing use of EDIT money.

That change will now be made, pending approval of county commissioners and county council.

"We see this as an important economic development project because it's workforce development," said Bill Bradley, board president and director of the Jay County Development Corporation, speaking on behalf of JCDC. "We're very supportive of what John Jay is doing."

"What better application of EDIT funds than into education?" asked board member Gerald Kirby rhetorically.

Although the center is dependent on local funding, Bradley said the center's leaders will be focusing on how to make it self-sustainable in the future as part of its strategic planning. For the last five years, Bradley added, the center has been mostly focused on restoration of the Weiler Building where it is located.

Enrollment has been increasing due to a variety of factors, including the national economic downturn, increased college costs and smaller availability of financial aid, in turn making John Jay's local training more appetizing. Marketing is another area JJCL will be working on improving in the near future.

"It's nice that it's available," said board member Nancy Culy, who enrolled in classes through the center's Indiana Wesleyan program. "I would hate to see funding cut at this time."

"This is a gem in our community," agreed board member Ramon Loucks. "The resources it's provided to date and what it can provide in the future ... has always been an important part of recovery."

"It's the envy of a lot of other communities around us," Bradley said.

Loucks made a motion to give the funding and the board approved it unanimously.

In other business this morning, the EDIT board:

•Discussed the board's composition. The 21-member board has had some difficulty meeting a quorum in the past. Bradley said he will look at the ordinance which created the board and see where they may be able to make changes to solve the issue, whether by reducing the board's numbers or by redefining what a quorum shall be.

•Discussed future meeting times. Kirby suggested that an evening meeting time might be more appealing than the current 7:30 a.m. start time.[[In-content Ad]]