INDIANAPOLIS (April 26, 2019) Conexus Indiana today announced that its Catapult Indiana initiative, an innovative, industry-led advanced manufacturing training program, received a significant five-figure grant from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, to support the expansion of the program into Anderson, Ind. The Anderson Advanced Manufacturing Program (AAMP) is the city’s local name for Catapult, which provides training to equip unemployed and underemployed Hoosiers with the skills they need to join the in-demand advanced manufacturing field.
“The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana is enthusiastic about the Catapult Indiana program and what it will do for Anderson and our entire state,” Bishop Timothy L. Doherty said. “We carefully scrutinize opportunities to invest available funds from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to ensure that they will increase the dignity of work and enable people within Northcentral Indiana to earn living wages in a field that offers long-term career pathways. We are passionate about this program’s ability to make a positive and long-term impact on the lives of workers and their families.”
Conexus Indiana’s Catapult Indiana initiative seeks to prepare Hoosiers for some of the more than 85,000 jobs in Indiana that remain unfilled due to a skills mismatch. The program provides participants with hands-on, paid training opportunities that may result in manufacturing positions. It is a 160-hour course over four weeks, and it has graduated more than 3,500 people across the state.
The city of Anderson approached Catapult Indiana to bring the program to the city after seeing the success of Subaru of Indiana Automotive in Lafayette and other employer partners in the state.
“We are proud of the community backed AAMP and its goal of providing an opportunity for some of our most disadvantaged citizens to access stable, well-paying jobs,” Anderson Mayor Tom Broderick said. “We look forward to our partnership with Catapult Indiana, and to the positive impact it will have on the Anderson community.”
“Catapult is designed to help build a stronger workforce pipeline, increase the employment participation rate and worker wages,” said Brad Rhorer, chief talent programs officer of Conexus Indiana. “We are thrilled to have the city of Anderson join us in our mission of bridging the skills gap and driving the Hoosier workforce forward.”
In addition to the grant, the Anderson program is supported by the lead industry partners of NTN Driveshaft, NTK Precison Axle, Sirmax North America, and Red Gold, Inc.
About Conexus Indiana
For more than a decade, Conexus Indiana, one of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) non-profit initiatives, has been positioning the Hoosier State as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to invest, employ and succeed. By collaborating with industry, academic and public sector partners on a shared vision for an innovative, skilled workforce and stronger business climate, Conexus Indiana has helped to create opportunities for advanced manufacturing and logistics companies, prepare Hoosiers to succeed in the state’s largest industry sectors and maintain Indiana’s competitive advantage. For more information, go to www.ConexusIndiana.com.
