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The Center of Family Love will mark the start of construction on the new BravEra Life Center with a public groundbreaking scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at noon, unveiling a $30 million campus meant to expand vocational and life-skills training for Oklahomans with intellectual disabilities and neurodiversity. The project is pitched as a major investment in workforce access and independence, promising new pathways from education to paid employment.
The facility, planned for 2139 NE Morgan Road in Piedmont, will combine classroom instruction with hands-on workplace training, community meeting space and agricultural programs designed to bridge school-based services and adult employment opportunities.
What the campus will offer
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Organizers say the 40,000-square-foot BravEra Life Center will provide a range of practical training environments to help residents and participants build job-ready skills. The layout aims to replicate real workplace settings so people can gain experience before entering the local labor market.
- Commercial training kitchen for culinary and food-service instruction
- Community event center available for public bookings and gatherings
- Teaching barn, livestock areas and a large greenhouse for agricultural learning
- National Fitness Court and health amenities to support wellness and accessibility
- Workforce training spaces and classrooms tailored to individual learning plans
Center leadership says the campus will increase annual capacity by about 300 individuals, serving high school students across 14 school districts, adults living at home, and residents of the Center of Family Love. Programs will pair personalized instruction—leadership development, life skills, health and wellness—with on-site job coaching to support transitions into paid positions.
Local partners and timeline
Beck Design is leading architectural work while QUAD Construction is contracted for the build. Officials expect site work to begin in November 2026, with a targeted opening in 2028.
“After decades of working with these families, we see potential that often goes unrecognized,” Center of Family Love President and CEO Shawn Dillon said, describing the project as a way to scale services and connect more people to meaningful work. A current resident, Shay, described excitement about the hands-on opportunities—highlighting a future flower shop as a place to practice a craft and make others happy.
Why it matters now
Disability advocates and workforce planners point to growing demand for inclusive employment programs as both a social and economic priority. By creating simulated job settings and supported employment pathways, the BravEra Life Center seeks to reduce barriers that often keep people with intellectual disabilities and neurodiversity from sustained work.
For the local community, the center could mean a stronger pipeline of trained workers, new community programming, and expanded support for families seeking post-school options. The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony to hear remarks from Center leadership and program participants.
