Developers plan to start construction in July of a $14 million design center in Fishers which aims to help solve skilled trades workforce challenges.
The 92,000-sq. ft. Hub & Spoke, planned for East 106th St. and Lantern Rd. along the future Nickel Plate Trail, will include a retail showroom, co-working space, industry tenant offices, and a 16,000 sq. makerspace for students and community members.
Founders David Decker, CEO of ACo, a Carmel kitchen, bath and flooring dealer and Travis Tucker, president of Fishers-based OnPoint Real Estate Solutions, are leading the initiative with project partners include the City of Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern Schools.
They say they hope their initiative helps solve labor shortages by eliminating the stigma that construction jobs are low-skill and low-paying, and by illustrating the opportunities for careers the industry creates..
Decker told the Indianapolis Business Journal that the labor shortage problem became tangible for Decker and Tucker when they learned materials they need for their project wouldn’t become available until November, pushing out their construction timeline. Only after another project fell through were they able to secure a more timely groundbreaking, he said.
Plans call for the center to open by the end of the first quarter in 2020.
The pair hopes to break ground in July, with an opening slated for the end of the first quarter of next year.
