Indiana – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced $9.1 million in new workforce development grants aimed at expanding registered apprenticeship programs across the state and helping Hoosiers access higher-wage career opportunities.
The funding will support apprenticeship growth in key industries, including advanced manufacturing, while also providing employment and training opportunities for formerly incarcerated adults seeking to reenter the workforce.
“Indiana has a nationally recognized apprenticeship system that works for employers, helping them build talent pipelines across industries, and for Hoosiers, putting them on a path to higher wage careers,” Braun said. “With these new grants, my administration will continue developing Indiana’s tremendous workforce, preparing them for the careers of the future.”
The funding includes a $4 million State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Round 4 (SAEF4) grant awarded to Indiana by the U.S. Department of Labor.
State officials said the SAEF4 funding will be used to strengthen Indiana’s apprenticeship system by increasing opportunities in advanced manufacturing, a sector identified as one of the most underserved areas for apprenticeship programs in the state.
The grant will provide funding to advanced manufacturing apprenticeship sponsors and support the creation of Capacity Building Grants. Those grants will help Indiana’s Local Workforce Boards expand apprenticeship opportunities by supporting apprenticeship navigators who will work directly with employers in the advanced manufacturing industry.
The state also secured a separate $5.1 million Reentry Employment in Skilled Trades, Advanced Manufacturing, Registered Apprenticeships, and Training Initiative (RESTART) grant.
The RESTART funding will help connect formerly incarcerated adults age 25 and older with job training, employment opportunities, and registered apprenticeships in high-demand industries.
Indiana officials said the program supports Braun’s goal of reducing recidivism by improving workforce opportunities and helping individuals successfully transition back into their communities.
Approximately $4.3 million of the RESTART grant will be dedicated to regional services provided by Indiana’s Local Workforce Boards. The funding will support direct training, work-based learning opportunities, supportive services, and incentives for employers participating in the program.
Indiana Commerce Secretary Chuck Goodrich said the state’s apprenticeship system continues to grow, noting that Indiana ranks second nationally for apprenticeships per capita.
“Indiana ranks second in the nation for apprenticeships per capita thanks to our proven models that benefit employers and workers,” Goodrich said. “Indiana has added nearly 14,000 new apprentices since Gov. Braun took office, and these grants will create even more pathways for Hoosiers.”
The grants build on previous workforce initiatives supported by the state. Last year, Braun signed an executive order focused on reducing repeat incarceration by improving reentry opportunities for individuals leaving the correctional system.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of $81 million in RESTART grant funding earlier this year, with Indiana receiving one of the competitive awards totaling up to $5.1 million.
State officials said the additional apprenticeship funding will help employers develop stronger talent pipelines while providing Hoosiers with new opportunities to gain skills and pursue careers in growing industries.
