Lifelong Learning Corporation

THIS EDA AWARD TO THE STARKE COUNTY INITIATIVE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING (SCILL) WILL HELP CONSTRUCT A NEW 12,000 SQUARE FOOT WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER TO BE UTILIZED FOR PRECISION WELDING, AUTOMATION, ROBOTICS, AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. AS A RESULT OF CHANGING WORKFORCE PATTERNS ACCELERATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE GRANTEE SAW INCREASED DEMAND FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EXPECTS TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF ADULT STUDENTS TRAINED PER YEAR. THE NEW EDA-FUNDED FACILITY WILL HELP UNIFY THE GRANTEE'S TRAINING PROGRAMS ON ONE CAMPUS AND PROVIDE A CENTRAL LOCATION WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES TO EXPAND CRITICAL WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE REGION.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT AN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION EFFORT IN RUAHA NATIONAL PARK AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES IN THE GREATER RUAHA-RUNGWA ECOSYSTEM BY IMPROVING HUMAN-ELEPHANT COEXISTENCE AND BUILDING A CONSTITUENCY FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION. AS PART OF THE LARGER WESTERN TANZANIA REGION SAVANNA ELEPHANT STRONGHOLD, THIS ECOSYSTEM IS HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF ELEPHANTS IN EAST AFRICA, WITH AN ESTIMATED 20,145 INDIVIDUALS. THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO CONSERVE AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANTS AND THEIR HABITAT BY ADDRESSING THE IMPACTS OF HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT (HEC) AND POACHING. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) ORGANIZING PARK VISITATION AND ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES LIVING WITH ELEPHANTS; (2) CONSTRUCTING BEEHIVE BARRIER FENCES TO REDUCE ELEPHANT CROP RAIDING; (3) SYSTEMATICALLY MONITORING HEC EVENTS; AND (4) CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND CONSERVATION FILM SCREENINGS WITH VILLAGES IDENTIFIED AS HEC HOTSPOTS.

AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION FUND FY 2017

REDUCING HUMAN ELEPHANT CONFLICT NEAR RUAHA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA

GENERATING LOCAL SUPPORT FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION NEAR RUAHA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA