Nearly $13 million in new grant funding has been awarded to eight organizations across Indiana to support the development and launch of the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP).
INCAP is a new initiative aimed at preparing high school and adult learners for high-demand careers through paid, hands-on training.
Funded by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, INCAP is being led by CEMETS iLab Indiana, a coalition of more than 300 leaders across education, industry, philanthropy and government. The pathway is modeled after Switzerland’s apprenticeship system and is expected to officially launch in 2026, with the goal of serving 50,000 Hoosier students by 2034.
“INCAP serves as a vehicle for employers and educators to collaborate in a process that serves both students and industry,” said Claire Fiddian-Green, president and CEO of the Fairbanks Foundation and co-chair of CEMETS iLab Indiana.
Students in the program will split their time between school and the workplace, with at least half of their training conducted on the job. Apprentices will be paid, working year-round in roles selected by employer-led Industry Talent Associations (ITAs).
Key funding recipients:
- Ascend Indiana received $9.6 million to coordinate implementation of the pathway, support ITAs, manage regional infrastructure and oversee statewide marketing efforts. The group will also regrant $1.2 million to regional intermediaries that will serve as liaisons between employers, schools and students.
- Indy Chamber Foundation was awarded $1.7 million to lead employer and student engagement in Central Indiana, including outreach and promotion of INCAP as a viable career path.
- EmployIndy received $430,000 to support existing Modern Apprenticeship Program cohorts and to assist in transitioning those cohorts into the INCAP model.
- Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation was awarded $380,000 to launch a new Construction ITA.
- Indiana Chamber Foundation received $160,000 to incubate a new IT ITA.
- BioCrossroads, through the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Foundation, was granted $180,000 to continue leading the health care and life sciences ITAs.
- Conexus Indiana was granted $130,000 to continue its leadership of the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics ITA.
- Indiana Bankers Association Foundation received $130,000 to continue leading the Banking ITA.
David Becker, chair and CEO of First Internet Bank and co-chair of CEMETS iLab Indiana, emphasized the scale of the project and the collaborative approach behind it.
“Developing a new model for Hoosier students and a stronger talent pipeline for Indiana employers is a huge undertaking; that is why we’re bringing in more organizations with specific expertise and built-in stakeholders to make it work,” Becker said.
Supporters say the model has the potential to transform how Indiana connects education and workforce development. Programs for adult learners are expected to roll out in later phases.
More information is available at iLabIndiana.org.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
