In the News

Indiana Advanced Manufacturing Grants 2023

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 3, 2023) – The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), in partnership with Conexus Indiana, today announced $20 million in awards through the Manufacturing Readiness Grant program, underscoring the state’s commitment to investing in the future of advanced manufacturing. These awards, made throughout 2023, will support at least $329 million in technology-enabled capital investments to accelerate production capabilities and efficiencies.

This year’s Manufacturing Readiness Grants will support 161 projects in 50 counties across the state designed to accelerate the adoption and implementation of smart technologies and processes in manufacturing. A significant portion of these investments are being made in small businesses (72% of projects are supporting businesses with fewer than 100 employees), rural operations (28% of projects are located in rural communities), and long-standing operations (79% are businesses more than 10 years old).

"The Manufacturing Readiness Grant program is a strategic investment in Indiana’s largest, longest-held industry – a future-focused sector that will be critical to the state’s growth and success as we build a global economy of the future,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “These grants will spur technology-enabled capital investments at manufacturers statewide, helping some of Indiana’s most in-need businesses make critical investments in their futures and in their workforces.”

Launched in 2020, the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program plays a pivotal role in encouraging manufacturers to adopt emerging technologies, such as automation, robotics, 3D printing and data analytics, helping future-proof Indiana’s most robust industry sector and ensuring its long-term competitiveness. Impact studies of the program from Conexus Indiana, IEDC and the Purdue University Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises found that companies that adopted smart manufacturing technology added an average of five new jobs, anticipated an average payroll growth of $196,000, and increased revenue by an average of $2.5 million.

Since its inception, a total of 526 awards totaling $56.9 million have been awarded to 465 unique companies in 79 counties, accelerating proposed projects with combined budgets of $812.7 million.

While all of the available 2023 funding for the Manufacturing Readiness Grant program has been allocated, new funding will be available beginning in July 2024. Companies interested in leveraging the program to invest in technology-related advancements are encouraged to fill out an interest form online to be notified when applications re-open.

Smithville launches Bedford broadband project

BEDFORD, Ind. - Bedford residents will soon see a new residential multi-gigabit-capable fiber project to improve their Internet connectivity, Elletsville-based Smithville announced Wednesday.

The project is part of the city’s $10 million investment in rural fiber. The design phase has been completed, and the company expects to start laying cables in late 2023 or early next year.

The first phase will make high-speed Internet available to about 300 homes in the 14th Street area. Homes north and west of the area may potentially be included in a later expansion.

The project will have the capacity for future Smithville multi-gigabit service. The company’s high-speed fiber has symmetrical gigabit for 1,000 Mbps download and upload speeds; Smithville said this new project will be faster.

“In part because of its importance to the nearby Naval Surface Warfare Center at Crane and the fact that so many of its residents work there, Bedford and Lawrence County has always been considered an important region by Smithville,” Cullen McCarty, executive vice president of Smithville, said in a news release. “As Crane builds its workforce to support microelectronics, hypersonics, and other technology growth, this makes fiber availability vital.”

In the region, Smithville has been building fiber networks in Bloomington, Stanford, southeast Greene County, the Indian Hills region in the Gosport area of Owen County and western Monroe County. That amounts to about 1,000 rural homes and businesses.

To see where cable is being laid, Smithville provides an online map.

LCEGC Grant Initiatives:

Introduction to Local Health Science Careers (ILHSC) Initiative Receives $150,000 Grant

In June of 2023, the Lawrence County Adult Education Advisory Board (LCAEAB) identified a need for qualified healthcare workers in Lawrence County. The LCEGC is pleased to announce that we have secured a $150,000 Indiana Department of Health grant to develop and implement an Introduction to Local Health Science Careers (ILHSC) training in collaboration with the North Lawrence Career Center and Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington.

These partnerships ensure that degree programs, trainings, and certifications are accredited and industry recognized. ILHSC will become part of the career path to a “next step,” whether it involves completing a High School Equivalency (at no cost), postsecondary education, Next Level Jobs training (at no cost), a job/career, or a combination of these.

Participants aged 16 and up will receive help in healthcare career exploration, information on requirements to work in healthcare (i.e. immunizations, drug screens, etc.), safety training, and soft skills. Building healthcare basics such as First Aid, CPR, Stop the Bleed, and AED training into this course will allow participants to have the skills needed to step into a healthcare facility with certifications already in hand.

Local Schools Participate in Manufacturing Career Awareness Programming in October

Over 200 8th grade students from Mitchell Jr. High School and 9th-12th grade students from North Lawrence Career Center participated in activities throughout Lawrence County to explore manufacturing careers. Through the collaboration of industry partners, students participated in plant tours, hands-on STEM experiences, and North Lawrence Career Center certificate programs.

Partners: PRD, Stone City Products, CAP Group, Bedford Machine & Tool, Genie Supply, IN-FAB, WF Meyers, and Boys & Girls Club.

Grant Support:

$1,000 grant from Precision Metalforming Association (sponsored by Stone City Products).
$2,000 grant from Purdue IN-MaC. In addition to Manufacturing Week 2023, Purdue IN-MaC has committed to contributing programming funds through the spring of 2024.
Safety glasses from 4Imprint
Safety equipment from Bedford Machine & Tool and CAP Group

Continuing With a Year-Long Initiative

This year, we're taking it to the next level by expanding our vision. We are embedding STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning throughout the entire 2023-2024 school year with more frequency and valuable assistance from our community partners.

LCEGC's Impact at 76th Persimmon Festival, Sponsored by AT&T

The 76th Annual Persimmon Festival was held in Mitchell from September 23rd to the 30th. LCEGC hosted a commercial expo booth that engaged festival-goers with an interactive "PLINKO" board game for prizes. LCEGC promoted Adult Education programming in Lawrence County.

Growth Council Adult Education programs:

3-day HSE Bootcamp: Providing accelerated High School Equivalency (HSE) preparation.
Traditional (at your own pace) HSE program: Offering flexible HSE education options.
Introduction to Local Jobs and Skills (ILJAS): Offering fundamental job insights and essential skills training.

Our participation was made possible through grant funding and AT&T's generous sponsorship, enabling them to reach and support the community.

Event Calendar

October 30-November 16 ILJAS Classes

November 7 Election Day - Office Closed

November 9 Meeting of newly formed Lawrence County College and Career Readiness Continuum Design Team

November 10 Veterans Day (observed) - Office Closed

November 9-11 HSE Bootcamp

November 23-24 Thanksgiving - Office Closed

November 30 Growth Council Board Meeting

Important dates

November 3: 2-6pm

Qualifying Pre-Test

November 9: 4-8pm

Skills Practice

November 10: 8:30am-6pm

Science, Reading, and Social Studies practice & tests

November 11: 8:30am-5:30pm

Math and Writing practice & tests

HSE Bootcamp is coming back to Bedford this November!

Do you know someone that needs to earn their Indiana High School Equivalency Diploma? If they are 16 years of age or older, left high school before graduating, and need just a brief skills brush-up to become familiar with the test, High School Equivalency Bootcamp could be for them. Admission is based on the results of a Qualifying Pre-Test in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

September Bootcamp Review:

5 people graduated from the September HSE cohort. For those 5 people, it was a transformative experience that has equipped them with the knowledge, tools, and capabilities they need to carve out brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.