NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Nelsonville-York City School District today announced plans to build a Community Innovation Center, a new hub that will bring hands-on STEM learning, dental care, workforce development, and community resources together under one roof.
“This is something big for our kids, our families, our communities, and our future,” said Micah Covert, president of the Nelsonville-York City Schools Board of Education. “The Community Innovation Center will help students stay healthy and engaged in school while expanding the opportunities available to them and their families.”
The district will formally announce the project and hold a ceremonial groundbreaking 4:30 p.m. Monday, August 24, at the future Community Innovation Center site. The ceremony will take place immediately before the district’s Back-to-School Open House.
Construction is expected to begin in November 2026, with the Center anticipated to open in Fall 2027.
Once complete, the Community Innovation Center will give students access to advanced STEM learning, career pathways, and opportunities to earn industry credentials while still in school. It will also house a new dental hygiene clinic, making it easier for students, families, and community members to receive care close to home.
The Center will also serve as a hub for workforce services and other community resources, extending its reach beyond the school day and creating new connections among education, health, and economic opportunity.
“When families have to navigate separate systems for health care, education, and other support, important needs can go unmet,” said Rick Edwards, superintendent of Nelsonville-York City Schools. “The Community Innovation Center will bring those resources together in one place where families already have a connection.”
The project is being made possible through a lead investment from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, which has a long-standing commitment to improving community health in central and southeastern Ohio. Guided by its osteopathic heritage and a whole-person approach to health, the Foundation invests in efforts that expand access to care, strengthen communities, and create the conditions people need to thrive.
“Nelsonville-York has a clear vision for connecting health, education, and workforce opportunity in a way that will strengthen the entire community,” said Terri Donlin Huesman, president and CEO of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. “We invested in that vision because we believe it can create lasting benefits for students, families, and the region, and we are proud to help bring it to life.”
Families and community members are invited to attend the ceremonial groundbreaking at 4:30 p.m. and the Back-to-School Open House from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The open house will include school tours, activities, refreshments, and opportunities to learn more about the Community Innovation Center.
