Local News Headlines: May 9, 2023

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Available to March 31st Storm Survivors
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Monroe County from May 8–10 and May 17–19 to help survivors of the March 31 tornado continue their recovery. Specialists from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security will be at the center to help with applications, answer any questions, and provide referrals to other resources.

The center will be located at Stinesville Elementary School (7973 W. Main Street, Stimesville). Center hours on May 8–9 and 18–19 will be 8am-6pm. The hours for May 10 and 17 will be 8am-5pm. If you can’t make it to the center, apply for assistance by going online at DisasterAssistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, or calling 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, give FEMA your number for that service. For any questions, contact the Emergency Management Agency at justinbaker@co.monroe.in.us or at 812-349-2546

The deadline to apply for federal assistance is June 14, 2023.

Duke Energy Foundation invests more than $300,000 in workforce development initiatives to strengthen Indiana’s talent pipeline
The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding more than $300,000 in shareholder-funded grants to 16 organizations providing job search, education and specialized training opportunities for Hoosiers. Funding will support workforce development and educational programs statewide, including in Bartholomew, Dearborn, Floyd, Hamilton, Howard, Huntington, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Morgan, Montgomery, and Owen counties

The grants are funded through the Duke Energy Foundation’s Workforce Development Grant Program. For the past five years, the company has contributed more than $1.2 million in grant funding to organizations that are helping to strengthen Indiana’s talent pipeline. The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. This year, grants were awarded to the following organizations:

  • Developmental Services Inc. (Howard County) – $20,000. Funds will support workforce development training for individuals with disabilities.
  • Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (Hamilton County) – $10,000.  Funds will support the expansion of educational opportunities at the Fishers Agripark, including the installation of an aquaponics lab and a composter powered by renewable energy.
  • Huntington University (Huntington County) – $10,000. Funds will equip Huntington University students with hands-on training to master skills needed for the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become registered veterinary technicians.
  • Ivy Tech Foundation (Johnson County) – $30,000. Funds will support the purchase of programmable logic controllers for Ivy Tech Franklin’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab. This state-of-the-art lab will be used to teach courses in industrial technology and advanced automation and robotics.
  • Jefferson Community and Technical College Foundation (Southeast Indiana) – $15,000. Funds will support Jefferson Community & Technical College’s Utility Technician Certificate program with the purchase of new equipment, materials and supplies that will enhance instruction and deepen students’ learning experience.
  • New Albany Floyd County Schools/Prosser Career Education Center (Floyd County) – $15,000. Funds will provide career development services for area high school students to meet the region’s workforce needs.
  • Purdue University (Bartholomew County) – $30,000. Funds will support the development of an electric vehicle technology certificate program, with specialized tracks available in electric vehicle development and service.
  • Sheridan Community Schools (Hamilton County) – $10,000. Funds will supportvarious activities to expose students to careers in the energy industry.
  • Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board (Dearborn County) – $15,000. Funds will support individuals impacted by substance misuse with reintegration into the workforce, providing opportunities for occupational training and placement in high-wage, in-demand occupations.
  • Spencer-Owen County Economic Development Corporation (Owen County) – $25,000. Funds will support upskill training for Owen County residents and small business owners. Five training sessions will cover social media mastery, teamwork and interpersonal skills, QuickBooks and Excel training, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and digital branding.
  • Stonegate Arts & Education Center (Lawrence County) – $10,000. Funds will support a fall and spring camp for local high school students to learn about career opportunities in skilled trades.
  • The Pursuit Institute (Hamilton County) – $25,000. Funds will support the development of a mobile classroom to teach local pre-kindergarten through 10th grade students about sustainable energy.
  • Turning Point SOC (Howard County) – $20,000. Funds will support Recovery Café Kokomo’s Skill Up program, which offers individuals recovering from substance abuse and mental health issues a path to employment with post-secondary education, certifications and licenses.
  • United Way of Central Indiana (Morgan County) – $10,000. Funds will support the YMCA of Morgan County’s Center for Working Families program, which serves individuals and families with complimentary services designed to increase their economic mobility, including employment placement support and post-secondary training.
  • Vincennes University Foundation (Knox County) – $50,000. Funds will provide scholarships for students enrolled in Vincennes University’s newly launched Electric Battery Technician Training program. The first-of-its-kind pilot program will be at WestGate@Crane Technology Park in Martin County, Ind.
  • Wabash College (Montgomery County) – $15,000. Funds will support professional development opportunities for students to pursue career paths in engineering, energy and the environment.

More information about the Foundation can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

IUWBB’s Coach Box accepts Head Coaching position at Miami (Ohio)
Miami University Director of Athletics David Sayler has announced Glenn Box as the 10th head coach in Miami women’s basketball history. Box spent the past seven seasons with the Indiana women’s basketball program, the last four as associate head coach.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity which has been granted to me,” said Box. “Competing for championships while fostering an environment of doing things the right way will be the vision moving forward.”

During Box’s time with the Hoosiers, they won 20 or more games in all seven of his seasons and earned seven postseason berths, including five NCAA Tournament appearances. In those NCAA appearances, the Hoosiers have been to the second round all five times, made two Sweet Sixteens (2021, 2022) and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2020-21. This past season, the Hoosiers went 28-4, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. IU added a Big Ten regular season championship (first in 40 years) and climbed as high as No. 2 in both national polls this past season.

Box helped guide the Hoosiers’ defense, a calling card of the program. In 2022-23, they led the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (38.7%) and scoring defense (62.1 ppg.). Mackenzie Holmes became the program’s first Defensive Player of the Year, and for the first time ever, IU had two players on the All-Big Ten defensive team in Holmes and Chloe Moore-McNeil.

Box arrived in Bloomington after spending two seasons at Saint Louis University. Overall, he spent a total of four seasons in two stints with the Billikens, having also served as an assistant coach at SLU in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Prior to his second stint at Saint Louis, Box coached two years at Akron in 2012-13 and 2013-14. During his tenure, the Zips played in the 2014 NCAA Tournament after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship in 2014.  In 2012-13, Akron won the East Division of the MAC, going 14-4 in conference play.



This Week in Hoosier History

Larry Bird

1997 – Larry Bird, West Baden resident and three-time NBA champion, was named Coach of the Indiana Pacers. Larry played college basketball at Indiana State University.

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