Growing Opportunities: New Hoop House and Hydroponics Expansion Takes Root at MCCC
Fresh food, hands-on learning and meaningful opportunities are growing at MCCC! A new Hydroponic Hoop House project will expand the hydroponics program within MCCC’s Career & Community Experience (CCE) program, a Transition to Work program that helps students build practical skills and prepare for employment.
Under the guidance of instructor Tracy Radabaugh and job coach Cricket Shaw, CCE students began growing lettuce using hydroponic systems several years ago. What started as a classroom learning experience has grown into an effort to help address food insecurity among MCCC students.
Today, the program’s fresh produce supports MCCC’s Care Closet, which provides weekly food bags to students in need. With support from Crop King of Lodi, Ohio, grant opportunities through the Next Up transition curriculum, and a recent $75,000 grant from P.T. Tech/The Timken Foundation, the program is ready to grow!
More Space, More Produce, More Possibilities
Slated for launch in August 2027, the new 2,900-square-foot facility will more than double the program’s growing capacity. Students will grow lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers using expanded hydroponic systems, helping provide fresh, nutritious ingredients for Care Closet food bags throughout the year.
The facility will also create opportunities for students to collaborate across MCCC programs, connecting classroom lessons with real-world applications in agriculture, science and food production.
For CCE students, hydroponics offers valuable opportunities to develop workplace readiness skills, practice professional behaviors and adapt to different work environments. Students also explore basic chemistry, track growing data and take pride in seeing the results of their work.
Growing Skills and Nourishing Our Community.
The Hydroponic Hoop House project brings together career readiness, science, agriculture and community service. It helps students build confidence, discover their strengths and make a meaningful contribution to the MCCC community.
More than a place to grow fresh produce, the new facility will foster hands-on learning, encourage collaboration across programs and help make healthy food more accessible to MCCC students—a harvest worth celebrating!
Contributed by: Kerrin McGill, District Marketing Administrative Assistant
