Like many Indiana counties, Shelby County is dealing with young adults leaving the community to find education and never coming back. Those who do stay don't necessarily pursue the higher education they need to give the county a strong workforce.
That's where Advantage Shelby County comes in.
"It's Advantage Shelby County's intent to educate students in Shelby County to retain them in Shelby County," Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Board President Chris King said.
The Shelbyville City Council and Shelby County Council each met in special session Wednesday night to pass resolutions supporting Advantage Shelby County, a new college scholarship program specifically aimed at raising educational attainment and workforce readiness in Shelby County.
It's the first program of its kind in Indiana, a collaboration between city and county government and Ivy Tech Community College.
The program will provide gap scholarship fundings to qualified Shelby County students to pay tuition costs not covered by state, federal or institutional aid.
In exchange, students will perform 10 hours of community service per semester or fulfill a program work requirement with a Shelby County company.
Students will be assigned a local mentor to guide them on their educational path.
"Mentors will be trained, local volunteers who have regular communication with students to provide advice on career and educational decisions. Mentors will assist in identifying community service options, and will provide additional support to each student," King said.
An advisory committee will be formed to establish program rules and regulations.
While there are still details to be worked out, including how many students will be able to participate in the program and how mentors will be selected, those involved see Advantage Shelby County as a positive step for the community.
"You give people the opportunity in Shelby County to use that desire to learn to make their lives better ... and then they stay here," said Stu Kaplan, president of Makuta Technics.
"This puts you ahead of every other county in the state of Indiana," said Dr. Kathleen Lee, the chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College-Central Indiana.
Lee noted that college attainment in Shelby County is at 27 percent, below the state average of 34 percent which ranked 41st in the country.
"Indiana is not adequately positioned to respond to the demand for high-skilled talent and risks falling even further behind," she said.
"As we compete for investment and look to raise educational attainment levels, Advantage Shelby County will put us ahead," Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun said. "Something like this could be transformational. We're investing directly in our residents and our workforce. This program is designed around our economy with the goal of retaining and developing talent and providing a valuable workforce to our employers."
Advantage Shelby County may be largely funded by the city and county from revenue generated by Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The community will spend the next few weeks establishing an interlocal agreement and the documents and procedures governing the program.
"We're trying to do something different and with a purpose. Our community is looking to be a leader in education and economic development in Indiana," County Council President Tony Titus said. "This program helps us create a better and stronger Shelby County."