Southeast Indiana will receive a $1.5 million infusion to train workers in the region's growing advanced manufacturing sector, Governor Mitch Daniels announced Feb. 28. A 'Jump Start' grant was awarded by The Department of Workforce Development's Strategic Skills Initiative to the Region 9 Workforce Board, which will partner with Ivy Tech Community College campuses throughout the region to offer more training opportunities in several manufacturing areas.
"With Honda, Cummins, Jeffboat, and so many other new jobs on their way to Southeast Indiana, we have to get fully prepared," Daniels told officials gathered at the announcement at Ivy Tech's Lawrenceburg campus.
More than 500 people will receive the advanced manufacturing training said Andrew J. Penca, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The Southeast Indiana region will increase the number of classes for training in computer controlled machine operators, production workers, industrial maintenance, welders and mechanics.
The training grant also builds of the Dream It, Do It campaign, sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers, which is designed to increase awareness of manufacturing careers, increase enrollments in education and increase the quantity and quality of manufacturing talent.
The state recently undertook another initiative with the Indiana Manufacturer's Association, awarding a $2 million 'Tomorrow's Manufacturing Workforce' grant program to boost awareness and increase training options for the advanced manufacturing field. This field is growing quickly in southeastern Indiana area with announcements last year about Honda's North American facility in Greensburg, the Cummins' Columbus Engine Plant and others.
