THE CEC SERVES AS THE PRIMARY BACKBONE ORGANIZATION THAT FACILITATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL LEARNING SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE EIGHT COUNTIES FROM WHICH STUDENTS ARE DRAWN TO THE AIRPARK COLUMBUS COLLEGE CAMPUS. THE AIRPARK CAMPUS FURTHER DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL FORMATION OF THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION BY 2015 INITIATIVE, FUNDED BY A LILLY ENDOWMENT GRANT OF $26 MILLION IN 2007, AND A FOLLOW-ON GRANT OF $2.1 MILLION. PORTIONS OF THESE GRANTS ENHANCED THE AIRPARK EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES. INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOW-ON GRANT WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVICLAB IN 2012 (A PROGRAM OF CEC). CIVICLAB FORMED TO STRENGTHEN THE GREATER COLUMBUS, INDIANA AREA AND ITS USE OF "STAKEHOLDER THINKING AND WAYS OF WORKING TOGETHER. CIVICLAB CREATES THE TOOLS AND FRAMEWORKS THAT FORM THE UNDERLYING FOUNDATION FOR THE PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, TEACHES THESE TOOLS BROADLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THEN BRINGS THE LEARNING BACK TO IMPROVE THE GREATER COMMUNITY OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA.
