Clark State Community College, in collaboration with the City of Xenia, Kettering Health Network, the YMCA of Greater Dayton, the Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Center and Central State University will break ground on a new facility to address educational, health and workforce needs in Greene County.
The Greene County Recreation, Education, Activity, Community and Health (REACH) Center is projected to open in 2019 in Xenia, Ohio. Clark State will use 4,500 square feet of the brand new facility for classrooms, laboratories and offices. At full capacity, the classrooms would allow Clark State to serve approximately 300-400 students. Clark State requested funding for the REACH Center through the Priority Development and Advocacy Committee.
“In addition to our Beavercreek campus, Clark State is excited to open a second location to serve our Greene County residents,” said Dr. Theresa Felder, vice president, student affairs and Greene Center operations for Clark State. “Xenia is located in the center of the county, so residents from areas like Jamestown will have easier access to Clark State.”
The Xenia campus will offer short-term certificates and associate degrees in high demand career fields. Felder said Clark State’s goal is to help develop the workforce in Greene County to help fill jobs in the county and surrounding areas.
“We would like to grow the campus to offer an increasing number of academic programs and services to continue to meet the needs of students,” said Felder. “We will also continue to grow our transfer opportunities to area four-year institutions, like Central State, who will share the educational space with Clark State in the REACH Center.”
The REACH Center will be a 75,200 square foot facility at the corner of Progress Drive and Upper Bellbrook Road in Xenia. The facility will host education classes from Clark State and Central State University, provide easy access to Kettering Medical Center’s new regional facility and host an upgraded YMCA building with a regulation size pool and warm water therapy pool, as well as offer expanded social services and activities for senior adults.
In addition to degree and certificate programs, Clark State will offer workforce training, seminars and workshops at the REACH Center.
“This is an incredibly important day for Greene County,” Dale Brunner, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Dayton, said in a statement. “The Reach Center will be a one-stop-shop for people to improve their health, train for jobs in the healthcare field and help a growing population of seniors live full and healthy lives.”
The Indoor Ground Breaking Ceremony for the REACH Center will be held at 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 14 at the Xenia Adult Recreation Center, 130 East Church Street, Xenia.