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Ivy tech's enrollment in at it's location in downtown Muncie has risen 24 percent in the past year.

The increasing number of students at the two Muncie locations brings the need for more building space and parking downtown.

Ivy Tech's two locations are in the south side of Muncie on Cowen Road and in downtown Muncie.

The expansion of the downtown location is a major focus for the college, which plans to add more than 100 parking spaces by the fall semester. This week Ivy Tech purchased buildings that it plans to demolish to make room for the parking lot.

The college is working hard to coordinate parking with downtown businesses, said Jeffery Scott, dean of the School of Public and Social Services and Education at Ivy Tech in downtown Muncie.

"There are plenty of parking spaces available to the downtown, it's a matter of coordinating it, getting students and staff and faculty to understand where they should be parking," Scott said. "It's vital for the businesses to have parking for their customers."

Ivy tech will open a school of business this fall, bringing 600 students into that program alone.

The school of business will be located in the current Fisher building in downtown Muncie when remodeling is completed. Ivy tech also plans to use the old Star Press building for additional classrooms and office space.