Las Vegas, NV - Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada announced its new Inspiration Center, a multimillion dollar development that will be the permanent home to the nonprofit organization’s financial literacy, career exploration and entrepreneurship efforts for more than 60,000 local K-12 students - three times more students than it currently serves.
Located at 4440 E. Tropicana Ave., the 40,000-square-foot former 24 Hour Fitness Center is being renovated to house Junior Achievement’s capstone programs, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. JA BizTown provides educators with lessons and resources to effectively integrate work and career readiness and financial literacy into the classroom. JA Finance Park helps students build a foundation upon which they can make intelligent financial decisions based on income, expenses, savings, and credit through in-class learning and a hands-on budget simulation.
Renderings of the new Inspiration Center (Courtesy of knit architecture)
The center also will include an Entrepreneur Incubator Hub, Career Center and multi-purpose area, and it will be the home to Junior Achievement administrative offices.
The center is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024 with the first students participating in onsite programming in late spring.
Rep. Dina Titus, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman joined Junior Achievement board, staff, donors, partners and other supporters for the event that marked the start of the refurbishment project.
Photo 1: Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada Board of Directors (Courtesy of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada)
To make the Inspiration Center a reality, Junior Achievement embarked on a capital campaign to raise $18 million. More than $14 million has been raised, and there are still various naming options and other donation and participation opportunities. Among the major donors are Engelstad Family Foundation, The Cashman Family Foundation, Luna Foundation, Joe and Sunshine Micatrotto, Penta Cares Foundation and Hosts Vegas.
Storefront partners include Nevada State Bank, PNC Bank, Lexicon Bank, United Healthcare, Caesars Entertainment, University of Las Vegas-Nevada, The Venetian and Palazzo Las Vegas, The City of Las Vegas, Hirschi Companies, RSM Audit & Tax Consulting, Nevada Contractors Association and FIVE GUYS.
