George Robertson, president of KEDCo, presented the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission with an update on his Kosciusko Kickstart program at the commission’s meeting on Thursday, May 8.

The commission was shown a mockup of the Kosciusko Kickstart website. “We hope, in 2-3 weeks, we will be able to launch the website and begin aggressive recruitment of students,” said Robertson.

Robertson has been plugging the Kosciusko Kickstart program for months. The curriculum, developed by KEDCo with Ivy Tech and local industries, is a post-secondary education program that hopes to create a pipeline of capable, trainable, entry-level employees for Kosciusko County’s manufacturing industry.

Kosciusko Kickstart is a 12-week program. Students will learn skills that apply to the manufacturing industry, as well as “soft skills” like how to behave appropriately in a professional environment. “We want somebody who employers will be happy with long-term,” said Robertson.

Courtesy of gradsavers.com

Programs like Kosciusko Kickstart could be the future of post-secondary education. The cost of a traditional university education continues to rise, leaving students in an absurd amount of debt. Even with an expensive education, these debt-laden graduates are finding it harder and harder to get gainful employment.

Robertson stated that currently 40 percent of college graduates aren’t utilizing their degrees. Furthermore, they’re working entry level jobs that don’t even require advanced degrees. Many are struggling to make ends meet.

A similar program in South Bend recently graduated its first class. Out of 12 students, 11 are now gainfully employed. Robertson said businesses are interested in this type of program.

Contrary to a university education, Kosciusko Kickstart will be modestly priced, and Robertson is hoping to be able to provide financial aid. “We’d like our TIF districts to consider a couple of scholarships,” he said. KEDCo is also researching other sources of financial aid.

Additionally, the Kosciusko Kickstart lays the foundation for more advanced education and specialization. Graduates can go on to get additional certifications in trades like welding, logistics and even machine maintenance.

Welders are in high demand in this area, according to Robertson, especially MIG and TIG welders. “We’ve put together a national curriculum and certification,” he said.

“We think it will be a 6-week program,” he said of the proposed welding program. “Ivy Tech has already set up a six cell welding shop. We’re waiting for feedback from our employers.

“Warehouse workers are starting at $14 an hour,” Robertson said. “We’re going to start warehouse training.” He said that field has grown to be rather complex with the incorporation of modern technology.

“The last program we’re working on is the hardest to do: a 2-year degree in machine maintenance,” said Robertson. He reports that there is a shortage of applicants in this field.

“It’s a national problem,” Robertson said. Professionals working on modern manufacturing equipment need to know a lot, from software to hardware.

Robertson also suggested that there could be a shortage of traditional skilled trade workers, such as plumbers, tool and die makers and HVAC technicians, as Baby Boomers begin to retire. He cited that the average age of a plumber in the U.S. is 61, and there are no plumbing training schools nearby.

“It’ll be easier to get a surgeon to make a house call than to get your toilet fixed,” Robertson said. He continued saying that school systems are failing to educate students about career pathways other than going to college.

Consider this: in the summer between senior year of high school and freshman year of college, while university bound students are applying for massive, high-interest student loans, Kosciusko Kickstart students can get a reasonably priced education. After just a few months in the classroom, they could be making $15, $20, $25 dollars an hour, with minimal debt.