Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), today announced a new microgrant opportunity to help Indiana schools launch student-led businesses (SLBs), expanding access to high-quality, hands-on work-based learning (WBL) experiences for students across the state.
As Indiana works to expand access to WBL, schools face significant challenges in providing internships and other employer-based experiences at the scale needed to meet growing student demand. Ascend’s modeling indicates that statewide demand could increase from approximately 15,000 WBL experiences per cohort today to as many as 34,000 by the fall of 2028, requiring up to 19,000 additional experiences annually.
One strategy to help address this gap is the expansion of SLBs, which can help schools and employers overcome common barriers, including transportation, scheduling constraints and limited employer capacity, by providing meaningful, hands-on experiences within the school setting. SLBs are real or simulated enterprises that are designed, managed and operated primarily by students, providing opportunities to apply academic and technical learning in a school-based environment while building essential workplace skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving and time management.
Through the new Student-Led Business Microgrant program, Ascend will award up to eight schools $5,000 each, providing up to $40,000 in total funding to support the development and launch of new SLBs. The program is designed for schools that do not currently operate an SLB and are interested in developing a high-quality, sustainable experience for students.
“Student-led businesses give students the opportunity to do real work, take ownership and build skills in an environment where their work has real meaning,” said Brad Rhorer, president and CEO of Ascend Indiana. “This microgrant program will help more schools take that first step and create opportunities for students to connect what they are learning in the classroom to Indiana’s workforce and the needs of their communities.”
Eligible models include school-based enterprises and workplace simulations recognized by the Indiana Department of Education. Proposed businesses must align with at least one of Indiana’s advanced industries: agbioscience, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics, or technology.
Applications opened on September 22 and will be accepted through October 31, 2026. Priority consideration will be given to schools planning to launch their SLB on or before fall 2027. Grant funds will be issued to selected schools at the beginning of the second quarter of 2027.
Schools interested in applying can learn more and access the application at ascendindiana.com/slb-microgrant-application-2/.
The microgrant builds on Ascend Indiana’s broader statewide effort to expand SLBs as accessible, impactful and relevant WBL opportunities. Since launching the initiative in April 2026, Ascend has developed a statewide coalition, Student-Led Business Digital Hub and Student-Led Business Toolkit designed to help schools and partners strengthen and expand SLBs across Indiana.
Schools and employers can also explore examples of SLBs in action through Ascend’s case studies, including Bend Manufacturing, Creek Cattle Company, Commodore Manufacturing and STARTedUP Foundation.
