Choose Indiana

Creating Opportunity Through Stronger Workforce Systems

How We Help Move Indiana Forward

Ascend turns workforce insights into coordinated action, helping partners align efforts, reduce fragmentation,

and build stronger talent pathways.

Explore the work Ascend is advancing across Indiana’s advanced industries workforce ecosystem.

Data & Insights

Research, data, and workforce reports

Work-Based
Learning

 

Policy-to-practice tool and implementation guidance

Regional
Partners

 

Intermediary directory, implementation support, case studies

72%

Jobs in U.S. that will require education of
training beyond high school by 2031.

Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce

63%

Indiana’s labor force
participation rate.

Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development, September 2024

Guiding Statewide Progress

About Ascend

Connect

Connections come in all forms - whether we are connecting talent to careers or connecting the dots for the entire workforce ecosystem.

Connect

Workforce Strategies

With input from employers, educators, job seekers, and more, we build and deliver solutions that serve the entire ecosystem at scale.

Workforce Strategies

Data Insights

Our experience with employers, job seekers, and others gives us unprecedented insights that we share with our stakeholders to make informed decisions.

Data Insights
About Ascend

Stories Across the Ecosystem

See how Ascend’s work translates into real outcomes for partners, students, and communities across Indiana.

 

Isaac Rogers & Brooke Wagner

Student Voices Powering Ball State’s County Ambassador Program and Encouraging Graduates to Make Indiana Home

Ball State’s County Ambassador Program empowers students to share pride in their home communities, build leadership skills, and encourage peers to live and work in Indiana after graduation.
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Zander Huss

Empowering Indiana’s Next Generation of Talent

With support from the Questa Education Foundation, Zander Huss overcame financial barriers to pursue mechanical engineering at Trine University, emerging as a driven student-athlete committed to giving back to Northeast Indiana.
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Donna Marie & Mary Hughes, DANNAR

Small Team, Big Impact: How DANNAR Empowers Interns

DANNAR’s collaboration with work-based learning programs equips high school students with real-world experience in advanced manufacturing, building essential skills and strengthening ties between education and industry.
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Merideth Hughes, Milestone & Amy Henningfield, Superior Construction

Paving the Way: How Women IN Roads Is Transforming the Future of Construction

Women IN Roads is empowering young women to pursue careers in construction through mentorship, education and hands-on experiences.
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Andy Cassler, The Heritage Group

The Heritage Group Offers Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Early-in-Career Growth

The Heritage Group is cultivating a long-term talent pipeline by offering high school students hands-on work-based learning experiences, mentorship, and STEM-focused career exploration programs.
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Fort Wayne Community Schools Partner With Parkview Health to Give Students Hands-On Experience in Healthcare

Fort Wayne Community Schools partnered with Parkview Health to give middle school students hands-on healthcare career exploration through mobile simulations and interactive career fairs.
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Youth Internships in Ag

Chad Martin, Indiana Pork Director of Strategic Outreach

Indiana Agriculture Industry Seeks to Support Youth Internships in Ag

Indiana Pork and Ascend Indiana are launching internships to connect high school students with hands-on agricultural careers and mentorship opportunities.
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Michael Solliday, Wolverine Enterprises CEO, 2022-2023

Leading the Way

At Wolverine Enterprises, Michael Solliday sharpened his business skills in mentoring, communication and succession planning. He also learned what he did and didn’t like to do.
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Cameron Weber, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Student

Making a Difference Through a Career in Agriculture

Cameron Weber discovered purpose and impact in agbiosciences through AgriNovus Indiana’s Field Atlas, inspiring students to explore meaningful careers in agriculture.
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Tiffany Hatfield, Behavioral Health Academy Program Manager

Double Exposure

An innovative talent pipeline and dual master’s degree program has produced high-quality licensed behavioral therapists across the state.
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Get Inspired – Get Involved

Indiana Has the Data. New Legislation Helps to Connect It

09.04.2026
Indiana has extensive workforce data, and new legislation can help connect and coordinate that information to better align education, employers and workforce development efforts across the state.

Indiana’s Work-Based Learning Ecosystem Earns National Spotlight

09.02.2026
AIR selected Indiana as a national case study, highlighting how Ascend and its intermediary partners are helping scale and sustain work-based learning opportunities statewide.

Ascend Indiana Welcomes Betsy Davis as Chief Operating Officer

09.02.2026
Ascend Indiana welcomes Betsy Davis as chief operating officer to help advance its statewide workforce and talent mission.

Intermediary Learning Network Spotlight: East Central Educational Service Center

09.02.2026
ECESC is strengthening career-connected learning across East Central Indiana by bringing schools, employers and community partners together to create more opportunities for students.

Ascend Indiana Names Three New Members to its Board of Directors

09.02.2026
Ascend Indiana has named Shannon Charles, Kate Shelby and Adina Caldwell to its Board of Directors, bringing expertise in workforce development, talent strategy and workforce transformation.

Intermediary Learning Network Spotlight: Regional Opportunity Initiatives

07.22.2026
ROI unites employers, educators and communities to build collaborative talent pathways that strengthen the Indiana Uplands.

White Paper: The Role of K–12 Work-Based Learning Intermediaries

07.14.2026
Read Ascend Indiana’s white paper, The Role of K–12 Work-Based Learning Intermediaries, to gain insight into how Indiana is strengthening and expanding work-based learning (WBL) opportunities through intermediary organizations.

Strada Education Foundation Awards Ascend Grant to Advance Regional Work-based Learning Intermediary Work

07.09.2026
Ascend Indiana is one of seven organizations nationwide selected to receive a Strada Education Foundation grant to strengthen the role of employer intermediaries.

Indiana’s Advanced Industries: Powering the State’s Future Workforce and Economy

06.12.2026
CICP CEO Melina Kennedy discusses how Indiana’s advanced industries are driving economic growth, and preparing Hoosiers for the future will require new skills, lifelong learning and stronger workforce partnerships.

Intermediary Learning Network Spotlight: Hub19

06.02.2026
Hub19 connects schools, employers and community partners to expand career‑connected learning for Dubois County students.
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Empowering
Indiana's
Modern
Workforce

Choose Indiana

Empowering
Indiana's
Modern
Workforce

Choose Indiana

Empowering
Indiana's
Modern
Workforce

Choose Indiana

Empowering
Indiana's
Modern
Workforce

Choose Indiana

Central Intermediaries

Aspire Johnson County

Supports work-based learning by linking schools and more than 165 local employers to create hands-on opportunities that help students explore and pursue regional career pathways.
Counties Served: Johnson, Marion
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC)

Partners with districts, educators, and students to provide high quality, sustainable services that enhance academic achievement and operational efficiencies.
Counties Served: Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion
Supporting: Schools
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Contact

East Central Educational Service Center (ECESC)

Provides regional coordination, tools, and training to help schools implement consistent and high-quality work-based learning programs.
Counties Served: Bartholomew, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Henry, Johnson, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Union, Wayne
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Eastern Indiana Works (EIW)

Engages employers, offers workforce insights, and partners with schools to expand student access to work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, Union, Wayne
Supporting: Employers
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Contact

EmployIndy

Located in Indianapolis, EmployIndy develops career-connected learning systems in Marion County by coordinating employer engagement, work-based learning programming, and youth career pathways.
Counties Served: Marion
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Greater Lafayette Commerce and Economic Development Foundation

Builds connections between schools and employers to expand high-quality work-based learning, coordinate meaningful career experiences, and strengthen pathways from education to employment.
Counties Served: Benton, Carroll, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren, White
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce

Serves as a bridge between businesses and schools to promote internships, employer partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Counties Served: Delaware
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Hendricks College Network (HCN)

Connects schools, employers, and community partners—facilitating ongoing collaborations, coordinating a range of employer involvement opportunities, and providing support to help schools track and manage work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Hendricks
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Invest Hamilton County

Works with employers and schools to connect schools and students to employers offering high-quality work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Hamilton
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce

Leads countywide coordination of work-based learning by unifying schools, employers, and partners to streamline student placements and employer onboarding.
Counties Served: Wayne
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Southern Intermediaries

E-REP (Evansville Regional Economic Partnership)

Connects schools, employers, and community partners to expand high-quality work-based learning opportunities, strengthen employer engagement, and support students in exploring and preparing for careers.
Counties Served: Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Connects local employers with schools to encourage internships, career exploration, and collaborative work-based learning initiatives.
Counties Served: Monroe
Supporting: Employers
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Contact

Hub19

Connects high school students and schools with local employers through career exploration, internships, and hands-on work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Dubois
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI)

Located in Bloomington, ROI helps schools and employers throughout their region understand evolving requirements, building partner capacity, fostering regional connections, and coordinating programs that offer students meaningful career-aligned experiences.
Counties Served: Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, Washington
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Southern Indiana Education Center (SIEC)

Supports educators through training, resources, and collaboration structures that help schools and employers organize work-based learning.
Counties Served: Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Warrick
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Southern Indiana Works (SIW, Workforce Region 10)

Engages employers and develops talent initiatives that connect students to meaningful work experiences aligned with regional workforce needs.
Counties Served: Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, Washington
Supporting: Employers
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Southwest Indiana Workforce Board (SWIN)

Partners with businesses and schools to expand student access to industry-aligned work-based learning programs.
Counties Served: Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick
Supporting: Employers
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Contact

Northern Intermediaries

Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI)

Coordinates employer relationships, talent programs, and school partnerships to strengthen work-based learning throughout Northwest Indiana.
Counties Served: Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Starke
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Grow Allen

Supports work-based learning by coordinating student internships and work-based tours, connecting schools with local businesses, and partnering with community organizations to expand training pathways while collaboratively helping partners strengthen their work-based learning efforts.
Counties Served: Allen
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Horizon Education Alliance (HEA)

Partners with schools and employers to provide high school students with career exploration and hands-on work-based learning opportunities.
Counties Served: Elkhart
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Northeast Indiana Workforce Board (NEINW)

Supports regional talent pipelines by linking businesses with schools and promoting work-based learning as part of workforce development.
Counties Served: Adams, Allen, Grant, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, Whitley
Supporting: Employers
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Contact

Northern Indiana Workforce Board

Serves as a regional backbone for work-based learning, bringing schools, employers, and workforce partners together to build shared WBL infrastructure and expand student opportunities.
Counties Served: Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, St. Joseph
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

Region 8 Education Service Center of Northeast Indiana (R8ESC)

Provides training, coordination, data support, and shared tools to help schools implement and scale consistent work-based learning practices across the region.
Counties Served: Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, Madison, Miami, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, Whitley
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

South Bend Regional Chamber

Coordinates employer partnerships, student programming, and large-scale work-based learning initiatives to connect youth with regional career pathways.
Counties Served: St. Joseph
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Contact

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Intermediaries

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Research

Indiana workforce data and insights

News

Workforce insights that inspire and educate

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