For more information, contact: T. Patrick Laughlin of the Avon Commission – (317) 272-3906; Avon Town Manager Tom Klein – (317) 272-0948 ext. 101; and Dean of Trine’s School of Professional Studies David W. Wood (260) 665-4600 Trine University to open Regional Education Center in Avon

AVON, Ind. – At the Dec. 1 Avon Town Council meeting, the Town entered into an agreement to bring another post-secondary educational opportunity to Avon for area residents.

The agreement calls for Trine University to occupy 8,000 square feet in the Beechwood Centre adjacent to Ivy Tech Community . Trine University, a 4-year degree-based program, will build numerous classrooms and labs that will be utilized to offer more than 10 bachelor degree programs and two master’s degrees through the School of Professional Studies. Areas of study will include Management, Business Administration, Communication, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Engineering, Leadership, and Psychology.

David W. Wood, Dean of the School of Professional Studies at Trine University expressed the school’s excitement when he said, “This is a tremendous opportunity for adults to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree; our unique partnership with the Town of Avon makes higher education even more attainable for the residents of this community.”

This is a 10-year agreement and part of the Avon Redevelopment Commission’s overall master plan to revitalize the once-thriving retail center with opportunities for area residents. Beechwood Centre was built to Cub Foods, which closed in 2001. Then the center housed various restaurants and retail stores including Gerdt Furniture until 2008. Ivy Tech Community College developed a satellite there in 2010.

Based in Angola, Ind., Trine University is a private, non-denominational institution that grants associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in more than 35 programs on campus, online, and at ten regional education centers. The small class sizes and one-on-one attention with faculty encourages a high graduation rate in many disciplines. The Avon Regional Education Center will offer 8-week accelerated courses beginning in January.

Trine students are eligible for various scholarships and financial aid programs to students. As part of the agreement with Avon, the Avon Scholars Program II will be funded with $20,000 for each of the next 10

6570 E. US Highway 36 · Avon, IN 46123 · Phone: (317) 272-0948 · Fax: (317) 272-0949 · www.avongov.org years to award scholarships exclusively to students that live within the Town of Avon who attend the Trine University – Avon Campus.

U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review ranked Trine among the Midwest’s Best in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Trine is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the education, engineering, and business programs are nationally recognized and accredited.

“The Avon Redevelopment Commission is excited about this opportunity to bring another dimension in education to Avon.” Avon Redevelopment Commission President Jason Flint said. “The focus of this center is engineering which will give us a trained workforce that could bring more investment and jobs to our area.”

Avon Town Council President Mike Rogers said that with property tax caps and the reduction of funding options for redevelopment projects the TIF District provides the funding mechanism necessary for this project.

“Beechwood Centre is a key anchor in our community, and the transformation to a post-secondary education center is a great benefit for Avon and all of Hendricks County,” Rogers said. “The promotion of education and educational opportunities are the key to our local economy.”

For more information on Trine University – Avon Campus, please contact Hanna Varys at 317-775- 8410 or email [email protected] .

The Avon Redevelopment Commission is responsible for redeveloping underutilized areas and promoting new jobs. It collects taxes from the tax increment finance or TIF district, which includes Beechwood Centre, to be utilized for improvements within or serving the District. The commission holds monthly public meetings at Avon Town Hall on the second Tuesday of each month.

The Town of Avon is a peaceful suburban community neighboring Indianapolis governed by a five-member council and professionally managed by a town manager. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Avon has grown to 12,000 residents. Avon Community School Corporation outperforms the state average in annual testing and boasts a 93 percent graduation rate. Avon offers several amenities including Town Hall , which includes a large fishing lake and an 18-hole disc golf course, free of charge. For more information about the Town of Avon and the Avon Redevelopment Commission, please visit our website at AvonGov.org. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TownofAvon.

6570 E. US Highway 36 · Avon, IN 46123 · Phone: (317) 272-0948 · Fax: (317) 272-0949 · www.avongov.org