You don’t need to look far to find a creative outlet in Harrison County.
Harrison County Lifelong Learning, in partnership with Maker13, opened their new Maker Space in May 2023. The space features 3D printers, a 40-watt laser for engravings, and a “wazer,” a water jet CNC machine.
“We started this process about eight years ago when a group of leaders from Harrison County and myself went to Maker13 in Jeffersonville and had a demonstration of their Maker Space,” said Tom Fields, director of Harrison County Lifelong Learning. “The idea was that we would bring something like this to Harrison County…we wanted something that would be open to our community.”
Eventually, after generous grants from the Duke Energy Foundation and Samtec Cares, the vision came to life.
The Maker Space fits perfectly into the mission of the Lifelong Learning Center. “We are all about lifelong learning,” said Fields. “Whether it’s Adult Basic Education, healthcare training, or other enrichment courses, we try to meet the demands of the workforce and help people on their educational journeys. Over the past few years, we have really been trying to introduce people to advanced manufacturing. So, this space works perfectly with what we are doing.”
Available to anyone in the community, the Maker Space affords individuals the ability to create something special. “It could be used for an entrepreneur that has an Etsy business, for example, that personalizes a lot of gifts or a large company that’s wanting to make their ideas come to life,” said Fields. “Ultimately, this is an opportunity for people that are looking to get into the arts at some point in their life or who are just wanting to be creative.”
Fields explained that the vision is to continue to add equipment and classes around the Maker Space that will expand the county’s ability to offer more training. “If we continue to add advanced manufacturing concepts to the Lifelong Learning Center, then we can offer training to our employers that can allow for a continuous pipeline of individuals and potential employees.”
Hopes are that individuals coming through adult basic education or various other training will be introduced to these concepts, that later, may translate into employment opportunities.
“John Riley, co-owner of Maker13, explains it well when he said that there are a lot of jobs out there that don’t require certifications to prove your work,” said Fields. “But if you can come to the Lifelong Learning Center, manufacture or produce something out of your head and bring it to life using this equipment, proving to the employer what you can do, then that speaks volumes. That’s more than a piece of paper that says you’re qualified for something.”
The Corydon Maker Space currently shares memberships with Maker13, so both spaces can be utilized by members. A Micro Membership at $35 a month gives members 10 equipment hours per month, to be used anytime. A Standard Membership at $70 a month, allows 25 equipment hours per month, and for $120 a month, a Power Membership will give members up to 50 equipment hours each month.
LEARN MORE
Harrison County Lifelong Learning Center
harrisonlifelonglearning.com ● (812) 738-7736
