Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and Orsa Credit Union have partnered together in a long-term agreement to create and sustain a new innovation hub at Canton High School that district leaders say will expand hands-on learning opportunities for students and open the space to the broader community.
The 25-year partnership that includes a $5 million commitment from Orsa — the credit union formerly known as Community Financial — to support the creation and long-term sustainability of the Orsa Hub.
“With this partnership, this building is more than a state-of-the-art facility,” Superintendent Dr. Monica L. Merritt said. “The Orsa Hub represents what is possible when private organizations and public education come together around a common purpose: expanding access, unlocking potential and building pathways for every learner to thrive.”
District leaders said the hub is designed as a flexible, collaborative space where students can explore emerging technologies and build skills for jobs that may not yet exist.
“It came up as an idea of how do we continue to work to prepare our students for the future for jobs that don’t even exist right now,” Dr. Merritt said.
Located at Canton High School, the Orsa Hub is expected to include programming in robotics, artificial intelligence, digital storytelling, financial wellness, sustainability projects and design experiences, according to information provided by the partners. Students will be supported by educators and mentors, with ties to local industry intended to help learners apply skills in real-world settings.
Jay Obsniuk, a STEM teacher and robotics adviser in the district, said hands-on programs can help students connect classroom learning to careers.
“We get kids prepared for a career,” Obsniuk said. He said students in district robotics programs have gone on to work at companies including Ford, General Motors and Bosch, as well as other major employers.
Orsa President and CEO Tansley Stearns said the partnership is aimed at creating the kind of learning experiences that keep students engaged and confident as they explore new ideas.
“What I love about education is those moments of flow where a student forgets time and space and is seeing something for the new for the first time,” Stearns said.
Stearns also pointed to Orsa’s history in the region, saying the credit union has been based in the Plymouth-Canton community for 75 years. Under the agreement, the high school expansion will carry the Orsa Hub name, signaling what both sides described as a long-term commitment to public education and the community.
The partnership also includes initiatives intended to broaden student support, including efforts tied to girls in STEM through scholarships, robotics, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, according to the organizations. Additional priorities include mental health supports, staff benefits and student-centered programming, the partners said.
P-CCS anticipates a soft launch and opening phase beginning in spring 2026, followed by districtwide implementation in fall 2026. District leaders said the phased approach is intended to expand access across schools, strengthen cross-district collaboration and invite community engagement through showcases and events.
For students involved in robotics, district officials say the hub will help more learners access programs earlier.
Adam Brown, a Plymouth High School senior, said he joined robotics in eighth grade with little experience and later learned fabrication — the building side of robotics.
“I didn’t really know what I was going to do before I joined the team, but I definitely know what I’m going to do now and that’s because of it,” Brown said.
District and credit union leaders said they expect the hub to serve as a districtwide resource for K-12 students, encouraging them to test ideas, build solutions and develop skills tied to Michigan’s future workforce.