John Jay to open new class space

John Jay Center for Learning is shifting gears and moving into a whole new realm of vocational education.
Partnering with Ivy Tech Corporate College, Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue University College of Technology, WorkOne and Jay Schools, John Jay will soon be offering programs designed to give local workers and local students the skills they need to become productive and effective workers in the world of manufacturing.
To make that happen, the basement level of John Jay has been undergoing a transformation.
Executive director Rusty Inman noted this week that when the former Weiler Building was restored as the home of John Jay, extensive work was done to reduce the threat of flooding in the building’s basement, including new drainage systems.
But during the major downtown flood of 2012, the basement still flooded.
Now, with support from The Portland Foundation, the Ball Brothers Foundation and a $46,000 investment by the Portland Redevelopment Commission, still more work has been done to make the space usable flood or no flood.
New perimeter walls have been built and flood-proof materials have been used from the floor to about three feet high. All electrical and computer lines have been run above that height, and a sprinkler system has been installed to meet fire safety code.
The result is space that is industrial in appearance and in flexibility.
“It’s about a week away from being finished space for technical education,” said Inman.
“This really is Phase 3,” Inman said of the basement work. At various times over the past several years, John Jay’s board of directors has considered a variety of options for use of the space. Now plans have come together.
Eight local industries met with Ivy Tech, WorkOne and John Jay representatives earlier this week to discuss training that would be of immediate use to their companies.
Also taking part in those discussions were students and faculty from the Jay Schools Manufacturing Academy. Companies are interested in advanced courses in industrial maintenance, topics like motor controls and advanced fluid power. The revamped basement provides the space to take on that sort of curriculum.
“It’s a partnership,” stressed Inman. “We don’t want to duplicate classes.”
Ultimately, he said, the goal is to offer training that’s of use not only to high school students who will be entering the job force but also to workers already employed who want to improve their degree of expertise.