BROWNSBURG — College is coming to Brownsburg in the form of Midwest Technical Institute. The school specializing in various trades is in the throes of being built, bringing its first branch to the state of Indiana.
The 40,123-square-foot building is expected to be finished in early 2013 and to be open for students the following fall semester. It will be at 580 Pitt Road, just over the I-74 bridge on 56th Street.
“I think any time the community has the opportunity to attract any type of trade school or secondary education like a college or university, it’s important to bring those things,” Town Manager Grant Kleinhenz said.
Kleinhenz added that this could be a real boon for residents and local businesses who will have access to students who were trained locally in their specific trade.
The school is also expected to bring about 21 instructors.
The value on the building is $4 million and the town offered a seven-year tax abatement.
“It’s a good thing,” Kleinhenz said. “Any time you have growth, that helps us. That’s a $4 million building we didn’t have filled.”
The career college is based in Illinois and specializes in mechanical trades such as welding and HVAC training; and allied health, such as medical and dental assistants, medical coding, massage therapy, pharmacy technicians, and basic nursing assistants. The school also offers continuing education programs.
Town Council President Dwayne Sawyer agreed that obtaining the school would be nothing but good for the town.
“Because they’re not traditional degrees, this provides training to be gainfully employed immediately upon graduation,” Sawyer said. “There are plenty of opportunities here with a large technical base, and maybe some of those classes could be a first introduction to those jobs.
“It’s exciting. Broad stroke perspective, people are struggling and might need an opportunity to get re-trained, additionally trained, or learn a new trade right in our backyard. It’s a plus for residents.”
MTI is expected to be able to house up to 400 students. Kleinhenz said the abatement gradually decreases and that the estimated net property taxes would be around $120,000 per year. With the abatement, they will pay roughly $355,000 and save $485,000 in taxes before and pay in full by year eight.
The fact that MTI is coming to Brownsburg was a bit of surprise even to the school’s representatives.
“They wanted to come into the Indianapolis market and they drove in on I-74,” Kleinhenz said. “From I-74 they could see the Lincoln Business Park and thought it looked like a nice, highly visible location near the highway. So they drove through Brownsburg and went to their other appointments all day long and came on their way back home. They saw something that looked good in a good community.”
Sawyer said it was just chance that MTI officials happened upon Brownsburg.
“It’s a good story, actually,” he said. “It came out of nowhere.”
Sawyer said this fits perfectly with Governor-elect Mike Pence’s vision regarding vocational education that he shared during a recent visit to Brownsburg.
“It’s hand in glove, it really is,” he said. “Gov. Pence’s vision has been articulated and it’s being shared by the need. This type of skill set is needed, and this school has a history of success throughout the Midwest. We’re lucky to have them here to provide that type of training that’s needed for our residents here.”
MTI currently has four campuses across the Midwest.
For more information on the school, visit the website at midwesttech.edu.
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