NEWS CENTER

New plumbing apprenticeship training center to officially open in Beech Grove, transforming longtimevacant site in the heart of the city

(Beech Grove, Ind.) Mechanical Skills, Inc. and the City of Beech Grove will celebrate the grand opening of a new plumbing apprenticeship training center on Monday, Aug. 10, marking the completion of a project that has transformed a longtime vacant parcel into a hub for the skilled trades in the heart of the city.

Located at 1831 Albany Street, the site was once home to a Marsh and Safeway grocery store before sitting vacant for years. The new 20,000-square-foot facility now serves as a center for education and workforce development, while bringing new investment and activity to a key corridor adjacent to Main Street.

“This training center is another important step forward for Beech Grove, and demonstrates how a landlocked community like ours can work with local partners to creatively reuse a long-vacant retail site,” said Mayor James Coffman. “Mechanical Skills is also just steps from our busy Main Street, and ultimately will attract new customers to our local businesses. We look forward to welcoming the Mechanical Skills family to Beech Grove and being the first stop in what will be a rewarding career for the next generation of plumbers.”

The training center, which will hold its first class on Monday, Aug. 10, features classrooms and hands-on plumbing labs with the capacity to serve up to 500 students each week. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the plumbing trade is expected to grow 6% over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations.

The new facility also allows Mechanical Skills to expand journeyman continuing education and pre-apprenticeship programs, with the potential to add training for other skilled trades. Most plumbing apprentices attend the school without cost, with approximately 97% of tuition, book, and material fees paid by employers, GI benefits, or skilled trades training grants.

“We're proud to open this new training facility in Beech Grove and continue preparing skilled professionals for careers that are essential to our communities,” said Greg Brenneman, board chair, Mechanical Skills, Inc. “As demand for licensed plumbers continues to grow, this school gives us the capacity to train more apprentices and strengthen Indiana's skilled trades workforce.”

The new training center also strengthens ties to one of Beech Grove's longstanding businesses. Ciriello Plumbing, founded in 1952 and rooted in Beech Grove for more than 70 years, has trained and employedgenerations of plumbers while serving communities across central Indiana. Today, the Ciriello family continues that legacy through its involvement with Mechanical Skills, helping prepare the next generation of licensed plumbers.

WHAT: ​Grand Opening for Mechanical Skills, Inc. Plumbing Apprenticeship Training Center

WHEN: ​Noon
Monday, Aug. 10

WHERE: ​1831 Albany Street
Beech Grove

WHO: ​Beech Grove Mayor James Coffman
Mechanical Skills, Inc. Leadership



City of Beech Grove activates two cooling centers during heatwave

(Beech Grove, Ind.) With temperatures in the coming days expected to hover in the 90s, the City of Beech Grove announced today that it will activate two cooling centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Hours and locations are: 

• Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St.

 ​8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday 

• Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave. 

8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday 

“When hot weather hits, it’s important our residents have a safe place to go and cool off, particularly during the hottest part of the day,” said Mayor James Coffman. “It’s also a good time to check in on family, friends and neighbors, especially older adults. We are a community who looks out for each other, and I know our residents will do just that in the coming days and weeks.”

Beech Grove to open new Hornet Greenway, creating rare trail connections on high school campus 

Trail links schools, parks, and neighborhoods

(Beech Grove, Ind.) The City of Beech Grove announced today that it will officially open the new Hornet Greenway, TOMORROW, April 23 at 11 a.m.

The Hornet Greenway is the newest addition to Beech Grove’s trail system, a 1.1-mile trail that connects Beech Grove High School, Hornet Park Elementary, and the Hornet Park Community Center. With this new trail, Beech Grove now has the distinction of being one of the only school districts in the region with a trail system on its high school campus. 

“This project reflects our city’s commitment to building a more connected, active, and healthy community,” said Mayor James Coffman. “The Hornet Greenway provides a safe space for residents of all ages to enjoy the outdoors while strengthening connections among our parks, schools, and neighborhoods. We are grateful to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Beech Grove City Schools administration and school board, and our project partners for their vision and dedication to making this important community asset a reality.”

The trail was funded by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at a cost of $2 million. Additional support throughout the construction process came from personnel at the City’s Parks and Public Works Departments, as well as Crossroads Engineers and United Consulting. 

The Hornet Greenway also boosts connectivity to nearby neighborhoods, apartments, and local amenities, through a sidewalk network extending north to Churchman Avenue.

“The Hornet Greenway is a powerful example of what happens when a city and its schools come together with a shared vision for their community,” said Laura Hammack, superintendent, Beech Grove Schools. “We are already seeing families walking, students connecting, and neighbors engaging in ways that strengthen Beech Grove as a whole. This greenway enhances access and safety, along with the overall quality of life for our residents. We are incredibly grateful to partner with the City to create spaces that bring our community closer together and reflect the very best of Beech Grove.”

The Hornet Greenway complements Beech Grove’s existing Franciscan Trail, which consists of more than 2.2 miles of walking and biking routes through the city, and honors the legacy of the former St. Francis Hospital, which operated in Beech Grove for nearly 100 years.

A message from Beech Grove Police Chief Michael Maurice:



"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that today we lost one of our very own, Officer Brian Elliott. Officer Elliott, along with two other Beech Grove Police Department officers, was dispatched at 6:08 p.m. to the 100 block of Diplomat Court for a disturbance. After they arrived, Officer Elliott and another officer were shot. Both officers were rushed to Eskenazi Hospital, but despite the best lifesaving efforts by medical personnel, Officer Elliott succumbed to his injuries. The other officer, who we are not naming at this time, is currently in stable condition and is expected to survive.

My heart goes out to Brian’s wife, Erin, his parents, and all of his family, friends, and loved ones.  At this time, I am asking that we lean on one another to get through this.

We are grateful to the team at Eskenazi Hospital, and our law enforcement and community partners for their extraordinary response and support."