Cinnaire and The Arc of Indiana Celebrate Grand Opening of Erskine Green Training Institute & Teaching Hotel

By: Jennifer Calery—

In partnership with The Arc of Indiana Foundation, Cinnaire celebrated the Grand Opening of the Erskine Green Training Institute & Teaching Hotel last week in Muncie. Cinnaire has invested $11M in New Market Tax Credits to finance the Institute, the first hospitality and healthcare training institute for individuals with disabilities in the United States. In addition to Cinnaire, Chase, as New Markets Tax Credit investor, facilitated the financing of this project.

Housed within a Courtyard by Marriot, the Teaching Hotel will train all people with disabilities in a postsecondary education opportunity in hospitality, food service or healthcare. The institute will train an estimated 200 people from around the state of Indiana each year in any aspect of hotel and restaurant operations that they are interested in, plus six areas of healthcare. Students will reside in the hotel for 9 – 13 weeks as they attend classes and gain valuable work experience through an internship. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a workforce credential that can be used in their home communities to gain employment in the hospitality, restaurant or healthcare fields.

The Erskine Green Training Institute & Teaching Hotel is inside the new Courtyard by Marriot in downtown Muncie. Photo by: Mike Rhodes

“Cinnaire is very excited to partner with The Arc of Indiana on this significant project, bringing much needed training resources to the disabled community throughout Indiana,” said Mark McDaniel, President & CEO. “Our mission at Cinnaire has long included promoting access to education and training opportunities. This project represents the first concept of its kind in the country and I am thrilled Cinnaire was able to lend our expertise to see this vision become a reality. We wish to thank The Arc of Indiana for their tireless efforts in driving the dream of this project to completion. The impact this investment represents for the hardworking students at the Institute is truly remarkable and I personally look forward to sharing their stories of success.”

“We are extremely grateful for the support of Cinnaire,” said Jill Vaught, The Arc of Indiana Foundation Executive Director. “Through their generosity, the Teaching Hotel and Training Institute is able to provide a truly unique opportunity for individuals with disabilities who can then take the skills they learn back to their community to achieve greater independence for themselves.”

Heather, a student from southeast Indiana enrolled in the Heart of the House program is excited to “live like kings and queens here in the hotel!”

Brendan, also enrolled in the Heart of the House program is “Very excited about the independence we’ll get here.”