New ideas brought more than 50 new businesses to downtown Hutchinson in the last decade, but in the future, more steps may need to keep downtown alive.
Greater Hutch announces new Workforce Development programs
Greater Hutch, an Economic Development Partnership for Reno County, is collaborating with Hutchinson Community College and Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy to introduce two new workforce initiatives that will enhance technical educational training opportunities for our local youth.
Limited sponsorship opportunities are available for both programs.
The first, Signing Day, will take place May 6 at HCTEA. Like athletic signings, the signing day ceremony is designed to honor students who are entering a technical field and emphasize the importance of their career choice.
On the day of the event, high school students, parents, instructors, administration, counselors, industry partners, and potential employers will celebrate as students join their peers to commit to their future technical program pathway of choice.
There, patrons create decorative vintage-style signs during brief workshops, often with a little liquid encouragement.
The idea of opening a franchise lingered in her mind and following a recent change in employment – and with the help of a pair of state and local grants – the Hutchinson-native is pursuing the vision.
Nowlan, a licensed cosmetologist since 2003, will keep her day job as an independent hairstylist, but operate the new business at 115 S. Main, just south of Avenue A Park, on evenings and weekends.
A grand opening is set for 2 to 4 p.m., March 13, as a come-and-go event.
“I grew up in Hutchinson,” Nowlan said. “We lived in Virginia for seven years, where my husband served in mortuary affairs for the U.S. Army. I owned a salon there, but I thought, as our kids started to get older, that we needed to move home.”