By Ken Ryan Dalton—Led by lead investor, Engineered Floors, the Junior Achievement (JA) Discovery Center of Greater Dalton is set to open here March 8. In advance of its opening, where it will welcome thousands of middle school students from Northwest Georgia, the center held a ribbon cutting to commemorate the achievement.
The center’s objective is to inspire young people to succeed in a global economy by bridging the business and education communities with hands-on experiential programs focused on business, entrepreneurship, career-readiness and financial literacy. The 15,000-square-foot facility will be located on the new campus of Hammond Creek Middle School.
Prior to the ribbon cutting, Engineered Floors chairman and CEO, Bob Shaw, spoke about the importance of such endeavors. “When you train [kids] in a direction toward business, you are training them in a direction toward accomplishment,” Shaw said. “We want them to be exposed to the opportunity that business and entrepreneurship provide. It’s about having the right attitude.”
The JA Discovery Center is a state-of-the-art learning facility where students will apply concepts learned in the classroom in an authentic and immersive environment. The first day for students is Monday, March 8. The space can accommodate 135 students per day, according to Sarah Lipper, director of marketing for the JA Discovery Center, who told FCNews that simulations are run Monday to Friday during school hours throughout the year. Students cover curriculum in the classroom to prepare them prior to visiting the facility and experiencing the simulation.
Lipper said an “undertaking of this magnitude” would not be possible without lead investor Engineered Floors, as well as the partnership between Dalton Public Schools and JA of Georgia. Additionally, more than 20 companies—including Shaw Industries—have contributed to fully occupy the space and create a truly authentic experience for the students.
JA Discovery Center blends key components of education to create state-of-the-art learning facilities where students apply concepts that they learn in the classroom in a 360-degree authentic and immersive experience.
Founded nationally in 1919 and locally in 1949, Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, reaching more than 10 million students across the globe.