Edinburgh Students Rally Against Closure of Atterbury Job Corps Center

The Atterbury Job Corps center in Edinburgh, Indiana is facing closure after the Department of Labor announced it would be shutting down centers across the country, aligning with President Donald Trump's new budget proposal.

A group of protesters gathered on Wednesday outside the center, which sits on a rural road. The crowd included current and former students, as well as a renowned Indianapolis chef, Chekwa Vinice, who has strong ties to the program.

"I got a call yesterday saying that they were shutting down Job Corps," Vinice said. "It really startled me, because I was here in the 90s and graduated. If I never came here, I don't know if I would be here to talk to you now. I sold drugs, I was a gang member, and this place really helped me lay down the foundation."

Vinice received culinary training at Job Corps, which is just one of the many career training programs offered to 16-24 year olds. The program aims to house and help young adults who have experienced trauma and need to get back on their feet.

"Whether it's recreation, resume building, classes," Campus Director Renee Wolf said about some of their day-to-day activities.

The Department of Labor cited financial concerns and a low graduation rate as the reason for shutting down Job Corps. However, the National Job Corps Association disputes these claims, saying the graduation rate is historically above 60%.

"We were notified we needed to have all of our students off campus starting Monday, June 2," Wolf said.

The sudden closure has left many students struggling to find alternative arrangements. "I honestly don't know" and "No. Not really" are just a few responses from current students when asked about their plans now that the center is closing.

"The rug's been ripped out from underneath of them in a matter of three days," Wolf said. "I'm angry because our youth deserve better than that."

Vinice believes removing the program will only lead to increased crime, saying he would likely be on the streets without Job Corps.

A group of contractors representing Job Corps filed a lawsuit late Tuesday to block the administration's attempt to shut down the centers.