A program designed to create opportunities for youth, and a talent pipeline for local colleges and employers, is expected to open in Kenosha's former Brown Bank building by next spring.
Known as the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy (KELA), the initiative is a partnership between the city and several local education institutions, companies and other organizations, according to an April 26 announcement by the city of Kenosha.
The city expects to begin renovating the building, located at 2222 63rd St. in Kenosha's Uptown neighborhood, in the next few months. Clark Dietz Inc., which has offices in Kenosha and Milwaukee, is the engineering consultant on the project.
Along with other initiatives like the nearby Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood planned at the former Chrysler plant site, KELA is part of the city's plan to retain young residents through career development, higher education, training, and career opportunities in the trades, business, technology and entrepreneurship.
“The formation of KELA and its 'Steps to Success' programming is so needed and critical for the young people in Kenosha, especially for our low-income and young people of color,” Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian said in an April 26 statement.
The renovated facility will include a teen tech center with computers, digital cameras, a music studio, virtual reality systems and 3D printers for teens to use after school with support from adult mentors. It's sponsored by the Best Buy Foundation, Jockey International and the Kenosha YMCA.
Staff from Carthage College, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Herzing University and Gateway Technical College will have a presence at the KELA facility to offer pre-college advising, financial aid counseling, financial literacy support, and classes including GED programming, according to the announcement.
Other slated offerings include a Mahone Fund program that will match first-generation and low-income students of color with academic and business mentors; a year-round employment training program for students and young adults; and the Kenosha YMCA Teen Achievers program, which is focused on reading and math, life skills, college and career readiness, positive relationships, and positive identity for middle school students.
The city of Kenosha has a $990,000 state grant to establish gBETA Kenosha, a startup accelerator program operated by gener8tor Management LLC. The program is expected to initially be in the KELA building but could move to a planned incubator facility in the nearby innovation district that's in the works, Kenosha director of city development Tim Casey previously told the Milwaukee Business Journal.
The renovated KELA building is expected to open in winter or early spring 2023, according to the announcement.
