Return to Table of ContentsWhen news came six years ago that Grissom Air Force Base would become the victim of military downsizing, it was accompanied by concern for displaced workers and the overall economic impact on north central Indiana.
In 1994, 52 years after its birth as a Naval air station during World War II, the base, located near the Hoosier city of Peru, officially shifted from active to reserve status.
Today, groundwork has been laid for economic redevelopment, private enterprise has taken over properties such as the golf course and a housing development, the state has said it will locate a new penitentiary in the area, and, overall, things in the Grissom community are looking up.
And beginning next month, Indiana University Kokomo, Ivy Tech State College and Purdue Programs at Kokomo will launch a collaborative educational delivery initiative at the base.
The foundation for this unusual partnering effort grew from months of discussion during which representatives of the higher education institutions, the Grissom Redevelopment Authority and the Grissom Air Force Reserve talked about ways to strengthen redevelopment efforts while meeting area workforce education needs.
The first step in the partnership is the launching of five basic courses that will support the Air Force Reserve's degree completion program, and at the same time, make higher education more accessible for area residents.
Registration is scheduled from 5-6 p.m. Thursday (April 24) in Grissom Building 1. Placement testing was conducted earlier this week.