The Culture Barber College hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate its opening in Hammond.

The event took place at The Culture Barber College at 222 Douglas St. in Hammond. Marvin White, owner, opened the school after years of working as a barber in Hammond.

“I realized that by teaching this skill, I can assist in many students starting their own business,” White said in a press release.

Representatives from the Hammond City Council, Hammond Economic Development and Lakeshore Chamber Board and community members attended the event.

The celebration marked a milestone in the college’s mission to provide barbering education and services to the Hammond community. The Culture Barber College aims to empower aspiring barbers through training programs that blend traditional techniques and modern trends.

“We were thrilled they chose Hammond and opened doors to career pathways in this type of industry,” said Kim Olesker, Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce CEO. “We love the contribution to Hammond, but more so opportunity to place students in their career, with training for cutting hair but also strong business sense.”

The college invites community members to check out the classes and share with those looking to start a career and have their own business. Classes have rolling enrollment. The coursework takes about a year to complete.

“This ribbon cutting marked not just a new beginning for us, but also a commitment to excellence in barbering education,” White said.