Indiana’s Workforce Partner

Creating Opportunity Through Stronger Workforce Systems

Access Resources
Explore Workforce Insights
100,000+
Jobs open statewide1

Meeting that demand requires better connections between educators, employers, community partners, and the systems around them.

Ascend turns workforce insights into coordinated action, helping partners align efforts, reduce fragmentation, and build stronger talent pathways. Together, these efforts create a stronger workforce system that benefits Hoosiers, employers, and communities across Indiana.

What we do

How We Help Move Indiana Forward

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

Data & Insights

Research, analysis, forecasting, shared workforce reports
Tools & Resources

Policy-to-practice tools, implementation guidance, technical assistance
Regional Partners

Intermediary directory, implementation support, case studies
Thought Leadership

Clarity on complex topics, actionable insights, best practices
Connecting What Works. Scaling What Matters. 
Our Results

Impact in Action

See how Ascend strengthens alignment among stakeholders and equips Indiana’s workforce ecosystem with the insights and tools to advance.

Data-driven talent development resources

Building a connected workforce ecosystem

Go-to source for turning policy into practice

16
Work-Based Learning Resources

Design high-quality experiences that meet Indiana’s graduation requirements

24
Intermediary Organizations

Identified and convened through statewide intermediary strategy to connect students to work-based learning

86
School Engagements

Helping inform K-12 and work-based learning support

See Our Impact
Real Impact

Stories Across the Ecosystem

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

Student welding at Bend Manufacturing
Student collecting feed at Creek Cattle Company
Commodore Manufacturing instructor working with a student at a laptop
Student reading a magazine at the STARTedUP Foundation
Workplace Simulation
Bend Manufacturing

Bend Manufacturing pushes the boundaries of what a student-led business can be. Students aren’t just learning advanced manufacturing—they’re applying it alongside industry and research partners, delivering work that reaches as far as NASA.

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School-Based Enterprise
Creek Cattle Company

At Indian Creek High School, Creek Cattle Company shows what’s possible when students take the lead. From managing a full-scale cattle operation to supplying their own cafeteria, students are building real skills and delivering real results.

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Workplace Simulation
Commodore Manufacturing

What happens when students don’t just simulate business, but actually serve real customers? At Perry Central High School, Commodore Manufacturing shows how student-led businesses can produce high-quality work for industry partners while building a workforce ready for day one.

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Student Entrepreneurial Experience
STARTedUP Foundation

Student-led businesses don’t always start in a classroom, they can start with an idea. The STARTedUP Foundation is helping thousands of students turn problem-solving into entrepreneurship, showing how student-led ventures can spark purpose, innovation, and real-world opportunity.

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Get Involved

Ways to Engage

Explore Workforce Insights

Access research, analysis, and data tools that help partners better understand workforce demand, talent trends, and future opportunities.

Explore Research
Access Work-Based Learning Resources

Find practical tools and guidance that help schools, intermediaries, and partners turn policy into practice and support high-quality work-based learning statewide.

View Resources
Learn About Intermediary Support

Discover Ascend’s Regional Work-Based Learning Intermediary Directory and access support for delivering high-quality work-based learning experiences to students.

Learn More
Connect With Ascend

Learn more about Ascend’s role in Indiana’s workforce ecosystem and how it strengthens the advanced industries.

Contact Us

1Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Indiana Career Connect

Trends Shaping Indiana’s Workforce

Our thought leadership experts break down the forces redefining Indiana’s evolving workforce.

Explore Ascend Perspectives

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Wilson Education Service Center (Educator & Employer Support)

Connects and supports educators and industry partners in expanding work-based learning opportunities through professional learning, collaborative groups, and networking events.
Counties Served: Dearborn, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland
Supporting: Employers, Schools
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Wilson Education Service Center (Educator Support)

Connects and supports educators and industry partners in expanding work-based learning opportunities through professional learning, collaborative groups, and networking events.
Counties Served: Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, Washington
Supporting: Schools
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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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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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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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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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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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Connect

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Resources

Intermediaries

Find a regional partner to help you create work-based learning opportunities

Research

Indiana workforce data and insights

News

Workforce insights that inspire and educate

What We Do

Who We Are

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