Vision Corner Is Creating New Pathways in Union City, IN

Courtesy of Union City

In downtown Union City, Indiana, a building that was once overlooked is now full of life. Students make custom apparel and produce communications, esports teams plan their next moves and future health care workers get ready for careers.

This building, now called Vision Corner, has become a place where education, new ideas and community teamwork come together – something many might not expect in a small, rural town.

For Chad Spence, the mayor of Union City, this project shows something important about towns like his. “Rural communities often get painted into a stagnant corner, like nothing new or exciting ever happens,” Spence says. “But that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Vision Corner is proof of that.

A New Energy for Downtown

Right in the center of Union City in East Central Indiana, this building is more than just a renovation. It marks a new way of thinking about growth and opportunity for the community. “When people drive through a town, their perceptions are based largely on what they see,” Spence says. “Downtown is the heart of the community.”

Courtesy of Union City

Community leaders wanted downtown to show energy, creativity and possibility. Vision Corner became the place where those ideas could grow. Now, the building is a hub that helps people of all ages, supports the local economy and creates new chances for residents. But it was students who first inspired the project.

Putting Students on a Bigger Stage

Union City schools already had something special happening behind the scenes. Two student-run programs – K.I.S.S. Communications, a television and media production group, and Apache Design, a student-operated print and apparel business – were providing real-world experience long before graduation.

Stephanie J. Orr

These programs are very successful, but most people didn’t see them because they were tucked away inside the school. Spence remembers learning more about Apache Design through his daughter, who participated in the program. “It was essentially a small business run by students, and it was doing really well,” Spence says.

Bringing the programs downtown to Vision Corner gave students a chance to show their work and operate in a more visible setting. “We wanted to put the kids on a bigger stage,” Spence says.

The move also brought new energy to downtown Union City. It drew in residents and visitors, connecting the community with what students were already doing.

Partnerships That Power Progress

Turning the building into Vision Corner took more than just a good idea. It needed teamwork. Union City secured a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program to purchase the building. Local industries stepped forward with significant financial support, including multiple $100,000 contributions that helped advance the project.

The project kept gaining support through Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI). Out of 142 projects from nine counties, Vision Corner got the highest score and was the first to be funded in the region. “We were ecstatic,” Spence says.

This support helped bring new ideas to life inside the 20,000-square-foot building. “When people come together and focus on serving others and building opportunities, amazing things can happen,” Spence says.

Preparing Students for Real Careers

Vision Corner continued to expand after talking with local health care providers who needed more trained workers. The answer was a partnership between Union City schools, Ivy Tech Community College and Reid Health.

Stephanie J. Orr

Together, they started a medical pathways program that lets students graduate as certified medical assistants while still in high school. The program has grown quickly. “We started with 11 students the first year,” Spence says. “The next year there were 23, and now we’re expecting around 36.”

For a rural community, this growth is an important step toward building a stronger health care workforce.

Innovation in Unexpected Places

Vision Corner has also become a place where new ideas can grow. With help from Ball State University, Union City started a high school esports program at Vision Corner. After students visited a facility, they designed their own space and formed a competitive team. In the first two years, the team won state championships both seasons, and two students earned college scholarships.

The building keeps attracting new partners. Bankers Life recently moved in, using the space to recruit, train and develop professionals.

A Community Space With Endless Possibilities

Student programs are still a big part of Vision Corner, but the space is meant to serve the whole community. There are adult education classes, safety trainings and language programs. In the future, there will be more chances to learn skilled trades and develop leadership skills. Whatever program is offered, the goal is simple: Create a place where people can grow. “We wanted this to be a hub for developing people regardless of their age,” Spence says.

For additional information about Union City, visit unioncityinoh.com.