A Maplewood-based nonprofit that teaches K-12 students business literacy through project-based learning has passed the halfway mark in a $20 million campaign to open a new headquarters in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood.
Joined by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest held a symbolic groundbreaking Tuesday at 1745 W. University Ave., a former charter school building at the corner of Wheeler and University avenues it hopes to gut, rehab and occupy by the fall of 2018. The new digs will allow the nonprofit to serve 34,000 students, double its current outreach.
The “Let’s Build Campaign” will fund program expansions, operating needs, technology upgrades and continued free or low-cost services to schools.
The building, to be named the Junior Achievement James R. and Patricia Hemak Experiential Learning Center, will house two existing learning labs devoted to personal finance, business simulations and career exploration — the JA BizTown and JA Finance Park programs.
A third learning lab — the new JA Innovation Incubator — will emphasize business startup skills through a digital platform and guidance from local entrepreneurs.
Thanks to @mayorcoleman and @russellstark23 for joining us at today’s “symbolic groundbreaking” event at our new St. Paul home! https://t.co/nOBCzVJDyS
— Junior Achievement (@JAUpperMidwest) July 25, 2017
The campaign, which has raised $11 million, is led by a $4 million gift from entrepreneur Jim Hemak, who opened 39 Great Clips stores across the country, and his wife, Pat, along with more than $1 million donated by the JAUM board of directors. More information is online at letsbuild.jaum.org.