In July, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced it will award $51 million to Heartland BioWorks, one of 31 designated Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) made possible by the 2022 federal CHIPS and Science Act co-authored by Indiana’s U.S. Senator Todd Young. The consortium — led by the Applied Research Institute that includes Ivy Tech as a postsecondary education and training partner — was one of 12 Tech Hubs selected for implementation funding. The award will be used to help Indiana advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing in pharmaceutical and medical device production.
“Indiana is now a global leader in biotechnology innovation and production thanks to the foresight and dedication of the Heartland BioWorks consortium and the Applied Research Institute,” Ivy Tech President Dr. Sue Ellspermann said. “As federal, state and private investments create thousands of high-wage, high-skill bioscience jobs, Ivy Tech and its higher education partners stand ready to prepare Hoosiers for this exciting new era of biotech manufacturing leadership.”
As part of the college’s partnership with Heartland BioWorks, Ivy Tech will support BioTrain, the consortium’s workforce development initiative. Ivy Tech will promote biotechnology and biopharmaceutical manufacturing pathways to current and prospective students at its 45 locations, including 19 campuses, across Indiana. The college has also committed to offering a bootcamp-style, 18 credit hour certificate for entry-level biopharma manufacturing positions. Ivy Tech’s Career Link team aims to place at least 1,700 students into biotech jobs in the next five years.
The Heartland BioWorks investment is the latest in a series of three federal hub designations in Indiana supported by Ivy Tech. The college is also a postsecondary education and training partner to the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons hub in the Indiana Uplands, where Ivy Tech Bloomington is building a cutting-edge microelectronics lab and creating a semiconductor training program to support this emerging industry. Ivy Tech is also a member of the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2), a multi-state collaboration between Indiana, Illinois and Michigan to accelerate the production of clean hydrogen and create thousands of clean energy jobs.
“It’s an incredible time for Indiana’s economy, and as these transformative federal investments touch down in communities across the state, Ivy Tech will be there to educate and train Hoosiers for great jobs in the industries of the future,” said Molly Dodge, senior vice president of workforce and careers, Ivy Tech. “Ivy Tech is Indiana’s workforce engine, and we’re ready to deliver on our commitments and catalyze opportunity and prosperity across the state.”
©2024 the Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Ind.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
