ELKHART, Ind. – Ivy Tech Community College is celebrating the groundbreaking of a new technology facility on their Elkhart campus. The new lab will help train people seeking a career in manufacturing.

Construction on the new iFLEX lab for Advanced Manufacturing and Automation began the morning of September 9th.

The new facility will be a 10,000 square foot building in partnership with local companies that need skilled workers.

“Technology keeps advancing at an ever increasing rate and impacts every aspect of our society and impacts everything we’re doing. It impacts what Ivy Tech teaches. It impacts how Ivy tech does teach. It impacts all the manufactures in the area with automation and artificial intelligence. The iFLEX lab is a tool in order for us to actual meet those challenges in order to help manufactures and different industries in Elkhart County,” said Larry Garatoni-Ivy Tech State Board Trustee.

Officials say the new iFLEX lab is a collaborative effort with local business leaders, the school, and other community stakeholders.