Photo provided Workers are getting close to completing the $6.5 million Jefferson County Innovation Center located near Hills Elementary School in Mingo Junction, and the site is expected to open later this summer with a ribbon-cutting ceremony eyed for Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. The facility will include a WVU Medicine walk-in clinic, Jefferson County Community Action Council Ohio Means Jobs access site, Jefferson County Educational Service Center Quest Center alternative school, and Alliance Integrated Care day treatment facility for children in grades K-8.

MINGO JUNCTION — The Jefferson County Innovation Center is nearing completion, and officials are preparing to offer the public a first look at the new facility before an Aug. 13 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Ground was broken last June, and the building — which will house a mix of health care, employment and educational resources — is expected to be completed soon near Hills Elementary School. Indian Creek Board of Education members received an update on the project during their June 18 meeting and discussed plans for a tour before next month’s regular session.

The $6.5 million project includes a 14,000-square-foot, one-story building that will house express care services, an alternative school, a job assistance program and a youth day treatment facility for students in grades K-8. Funding was provided through the Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Grant Program and administered through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. District leaders are partnering with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, Jefferson County Community Action Council, WVU Medicine and Alliance Integrated Care.

Assistant Superintendent John Belt said the site has passed several inspections and work on the parking lot is underway, with completion expected by the end of the month.

“The building’s fire safety inspection and the building-wide electrical inspection have passed,” Belt said. “The operational inspection passed, so lights are working in there and air conditioner’s running, but we need to have a final inspection before we can pass.”

He added that multiple rooms have been completed but need cleaning before they are ready for occupancy, and if all goes according to plan, the facility should be ready for its targeted August opening.

“They are painted, the ceiling grid and tile is in place, the flooring’s in place and they’re ready to go,” he said, noting the gym still required some paint and flooring work while entryways also needed to be finished. “They were starting to get the frames up for those this week and then next week they’ll be done, so by the end of this month, the temporary construction fence around the facility should be coming down because we’ll be able to secure the building ourselves. We’re close.”

Belt said the project remains on schedule despite a harsh winter and credited Hammond Construction and contractors for keeping work moving forward.

“With the winter we had and if that facility wasn’t under roof, we would not be able to finish by August.”

Board members also discussed holding a tour before their next regular meeting on July 16.

“If we want to make that available, maybe before our July meeting so you can take a look, we can do it 15 minutes before [the meeting],” Belt said.

He noted that the gym area designated for the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s Quest Center alternative school is large enough to be used by the high school baseball team for practice and by the public for pickleball.

“[The baseball players] are going to be able to pitch and we got the two double-lane batting cages for that, and you can have a mat down and golfers can hit golf balls into that, too.”

Board President Stephen Cowser also asked whether a ribbon-cutting ceremony would be held. Following discussion, Superintendent Dr. T.C. Chappelear reviewed available dates, and officials agreed to schedule the event for 6 p.m. Aug. 13. Community partners, local leaders and members of the public will be invited to attend.

Officials said tenants are expected to begin occupying the facility soon. The Quest Center and day treatment program are expected to be available when classes begin, serving students in Jefferson and Harrison counties, while WVU Medicine’s walk-in clinic and the Jefferson County Community Action Council’s OhioMeansJobs access point will provide services to the public.

Indian Creek was among 14 recipients to share in an $88 million allocation through the grant program. North Canton-based SHP serves as the design professional, while Akron-based Hammond Construction is serving as construction manager. Both firms previously worked with the district on the $63 million construction and renovation projects at Indian Creek High School, Cross Creek Elementary School and Indian Creek Middle School.