Calumet College of St. Joseph has received a grant of $15 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, College and Community Collaboration (CCC). The grant will support the Community as Campus, Campus as Community initiative.
This grant will support economic and workforce development, enhance ‘pride in place,’ increase non-profit capacity throughout the Region, develop healthy spaces for recreation and athletic activity, and enhance the curbside appeal of the College’s campus.
“This $15 million gift from Lilly Endowment is a generation-defining gift for the College, and I am so grateful for their support,” said Dr. Amy McCormack, President of Calumet College of St. Joseph. “This support allows us to further our mission in ways that reach beyond our campus and positively impact others, while also strengthening our institution.”
Calumet College of St. Joseph is one of 13 Indiana higher education institutions receiving grants through the latest round of implementation grants through CCC, a competitive Lilly Endowment initiative.
“While varied in scope and reach, the proposed initiatives and projects reflect a commitment by stakeholders, inclusive of faculty, staff and students from these institutions, business leaders, government officials, and community leaders, to create vibrant communities where all residents can thrive,” said Jennett M. Hill, president of the Endowment. “The Endowment looks forward to seeing all the projects in the CCC initiative evolve. We are enthusiastic about the prospects for both the institutions and communities and are eager to see these institutions and their community stakeholders collaborate to breathe life into their promising projects.”
Lilly Endowment launched the CCC initiative in early 2023. The initiative is designed to encourage Indiana’s colleges and universities to work closely with community stakeholders to envision and jointly undertake significant community development efforts to create more vibrant places in which to live, learn, work and play.
Components of the Community as Campus, Campus as Community initiative:
Major investments in the College’s main academic building, a former Standard Oil research and development facility, will benefit the community. The building’s 7th floor, which was once a lounge for oil executives, is largely inaccessible and abandoned. This area will be transformed into a showcase public gathering space, offering sweeping views of Chicago’s skyline, Lake Michigan and the surrounding residential/industrial landscape. Other community gathering areas in the building will be enhanced to celebrate the Region’s vibrant heritage by telling the stories of the area’s “People, Places and Work.”
Outdoor transformation will turn industrial property into public green space and recreational opportunity. A public fitness park will be developed in conjunction with the City of Hammond and local residents to replace an abandoned parking lot. A practice field is proposed on College property, turning a vacant industrial lot into useable green space for the school’s outdoor sports teams and community summer camps.
Public recreation and green space will be further enhanced by the extension of Hammond’s George Lake Bike Trail, which will extend through the College’s campus and nearly complete a loop around the Lake’s northern basin.
Athletic partnerships are envisioned with the School City of Whiting and the City of Whiting to upgrade facilities. The grant proposal has funding to assist replacing artificial turf at Whiting High School’s football field, which also serves as the home of the College’s sprint football team. Monies are also allocated for artificially turfing Whiting’s Oil City Stadium, which serves as the home of the Northwest Indiana Oilmen, Whiting High School and the College’s baseball team.
The grant also proposed economic development plans. Building on the investment of Hammond’s Transportation Hub, direct bus links will connect area residents to greater employment opportunity. An internship program will increase non-profit capacity in a variety of fields.
The Community as Campus, Campus as Community investment will amplify the tens of millions of dollars in planned residential and commercial development in the Robertsdale and the City of Whiting.
“We worked with many partners to develop a community-enhancing proposal, and I look forward to working with those partners to implement our proposal over the coming years. CCSJ has served our community for many years and our community has supported the college, and now we get to play a big part in giving back through this historic gift to Calumet College of St. Joseph,” said McCormack.
