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Learn about the impact of our work on Indiana job seekers and the statewide labor market.

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Ascend Indiana Supports Student-Led Enterprises with New Initiative

04.16.2026
Ascend Indiana has launched a statewide initiative to support student-led enterprises by providing resources and building partnerships that expand hands-on, work-based learning opportunities for high school students ahead of new graduation requirements.
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Connecting Classrooms to Careers Through Student-Led Businesses

04.14.2026
Ascend Indiana promotes student-led businesses as a hands-on way for students to run real enterprises and build workforce skills, while seeking support to scale the model statewide.
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Ascend Indiana Names Two New Members to its Board of Directors

04.14.2026
Ascend Indiana has named Karly Cope and Marie Mackintosh to its Board of Directors.
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Ascend Indiana Launches Statewide Initiative to Expand Student-Led Businesses Ahead of 2029 High School Diploma Requirements

04.14.2026
Ascend Indiana launched a statewide effort to expand student-led businesses aligned with Indiana’s 2029 diploma requirements.
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Ascend Indiana Launches Regional Work-Based Learning Support Network and Resource Hub

03.25.2026
Ascend Indiana has launched a statewide network and set of resources to help schools and employers create and expand high‑quality work‑based learning experiences for Indiana high school students in alignment with the state’s new graduation requirements.
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Ascend Indiana Launches Work-Based Learning Initiative

03.25.2026
Ascend Indiana has launched a statewide initiative to help schools and employers create and coordinate work‑based learning opportunities for high school students in response to Indiana’s new graduation requirements.
Brad Rhorer Expanded Background-01

Collaboration Is Key to Educating and Equipping for an AI Future

03.23.2026
Ascend Indiana CEO Brad Rhorer emphasizes that strong collaboration between educators, employers and policymakers is essential to align skills, integrate AI into existing learning pathways and build an adaptable workforce for an AI-driven future.
Emily Morphew

Q&A: Why Indiana’s Regional Intermediaries Matter for Work-Based Learning

03.23.2026
Ascend’s Emily Morphew highlights how regional intermediaries play a key role in connecting schools, employers and communities to expand and strengthen work-based learning opportunities across Indiana.
TechPoint Job Board

TechPoint Launches Expanded Statewide Tech Job Board Powered by Ascend Indiana

03.19.2026
TechPoint launches new Job Board, powered by Ascend Indiana, that increases available tech job listings from less than a hundred to nearly 2,000 across Indiana, creating broader access for job seekers and stronger hiring support for employers.

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Laura Miller

Vice President of Communications & Projects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Southern Intermediaries

E-REP (Evansville Regional Economic Partnership)

Counties Served: Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick
Supporting: Employers, Schools

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

Hub 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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