The Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA) will be holding a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, October 10th at 10:00 a.m. for the new facility that will serve as the future home to LakeView Technology Academy at the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN).
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian stated: “What happens when you give students a high visibility community space to present their creative ideas? You provide opportunities to flourish in this ever-evolving landscape. The relocation of Lakeview Technology Academy to the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood is a significant step in enabling young people to turn their ideas into reality. STEM educational opportunities play a significant role in entrepreneurship and vocational training skills that enable young people creative and critical thinking skills. In a world that is constantly evolving, the role of our youth in shaping the future of our community is more crucial than ever. The City of Kenosha is proud to partner with KUSD, Gateway and KABA. Innovation is a key driver of economic growth and competitiveness at the community level. Communities that embrace innovation tend to attract businesses and entrepreneurs. The talent developed will ultimately boost the local economy and develop future leaders. Lakeview Technology Academy and the Kenosha Innovation Center are just the beginning of opportunities for our youth and community.”
The KABA Foundation, which owns the current facility located in Pleasant Prairie serving LakeView and Gateway Technical College students, is developing a new site in cooperation with the City of Kenosha. The new 48,602 square foot facility will be the first development at the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN) in the heart of Kenosha between 30th and 23rd Avenues and 52nd and 60th Streets.
“KABA is excited to be partnering with the City of Kenosha, Kenosha Unified , and Gateway on this important project,” said KABA President Nicole Ryf. “To have a school of this quality right in the heart of Kenosha will be impactful. I’m proud to be a part of a community that consistently collaborates to move Kenosha County forward – as we’ve seen time and again – and continues to invest and create opportunities in its more challenging areas.”
LakeView is a choice high school within KUSD. The school features a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum and maintains a unique partnership with Gateway that provides students with college-level instructors and coursework. LakeView has been declared a “Blue Ribbon School” and was recently named the second-best high school in Wisconsin by U.S. News & World Report. The new facility will maintain the 400-student enrollment while expanding opportunities for all KUSD high school students to take STEM education classes at LakeView.
“Kenosha Unified is grateful for the dedication and effort put forth by KABA, the City of Kenosha, Gateway, and all of the other partners on this project that have secured funding to make this new location a reality for the students of LakeView and Kenosha Unified,” remarked Superintendent Dr. Jeff Weiss. “Their hard work will bring a new building to the KIN, affording more students access to hands-on STEM opportunities in heart of the city than ever before.”
Gateway Technical College serves 18,000 students annually at their campuses in Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties through a nationally recognized approach to career and technical education. Gateway will continue its partnership with KUSD at the new Lakeview Technology Academy offering IT, CNC, and advanced manufacturing classes during the day. They will also continue to offer evening courses in their Electromechanical Maintenance Technician program.
“We are excited to see LakeView Advanced Technology Center moving into this next stage,” said Gateway Technical College President and CEO Ritu Raju. “We have partnered with them for many years, and we look forward to serving even more students in this new space. This will allow for expanded innovative learning opportunities for students in areas of great demand in our communities.”
As the first anchor development on the site of the KIN, the groundbreaking of LakeView marks a significant milestone in the revitalization and transformation of 107 acres of vacant land into a collaborative, mixed-use project that is bringing the community together with a regional destination to live, learn, work and play.
LakeView’s move to the heart of the City of Kenosha not only paves the way for opportunity here and now, but serves as an investment in education for generations to come.
“This is a big day for Kenosha. As part of the larger development, LakeView shares in the KIN’s mission to provide new and innovative opportunities with its STEM curriculum and shared commitment to economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, community engagement and cultural diversity,” said Tim Mahone, Board President of the KIN. “We are grateful for the many partners who share a heart and vision for our city and who have carried this important work forward.”
More information about the KIN and its master plan can be found at www.kin-kenosha.org.
Press release distributed by the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA) and the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN).