Manufacturing News
November 9, 2026
November 9, 2026 · Statewide · Story 3 of 5
Indiana Secures $18.79 Million in Apprenticeship Grants for Advanced Manufacturing
Governor Mike Braun announced October 22 that Indiana secured $18.79 million across four federal grants running through 2031: a $6.7 million Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund award, a $3.9 million Department of Labor State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grant, a $3.09 million special education teacher apprenticeship grant, and a $5.1 million RESTART grant for justice-involved adults 25 and older. Indiana's own Department of Workforce Development has called advanced manufacturing the sector most underserved by apprenticeships, so this funding is closing a known gap rather than reinforcing an existing strength. The apprenticeship formula grant's group sponsorship model lets smaller precision machining and fabrication shops, the kind reporting CNC machinist vacancies open more than 120 days, participate without the cost of sponsoring an apprentice alone. What counts as qualified training will run through Conexus Indiana's newly ratified AML ITA Polymechanic standard, a private framework finalized outside this public announcement.
- Impact
- Indiana's DWD itself describes advanced manufacturing as the sector 'most underserved' by apprenticeships, this grant is remedying a known gap, not reinforcing a strength. The real leverage point is the SAEF group-sponsorship model, which lets smaller precision machining and fabrication shops, the same firms reporting CNC machinist vacancies exceeding 120 days, participate without the cost of sponsoring apprentices solo; but how 'qualified training' gets defined will run through Conexus Indiana's newly ratified AML ITA Polymechanic standard, a private framework finalized outside this public announcement.
- Watch
- How Local Workforce Development Boards and Conexus Indiana's AML Industry Talent Association align training curricula to the Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund dollars, since that standard determines subsidy eligibility.
- For the huddle
Are we engaged with Conexus Indiana's AML ITA occupational standards process, and could our shop sponsor apprentices through the new SAEF group-sponsorship model instead of going it alone?
Sources
- The State Of Indiana Receives Nearly $19 Million For Workforce Training · wowo.com
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- Indiana Secures $18.79 Million in Apprenticeship Grants for Advanced Manufacturing
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