A new application round for grant funds opened in the Regional Skills Accelerator, a program that has trained nearly 1,000 employees.
The Regional Skills Accelerator initiative aims to help the workforce reskill and upskill as the nature of work changes. The program addresses the need for workforce training demands through grants to support full-time employee skill development.
The Regional Skills Accelerator offers training grants to businesses in support of employee skill development and earning industry recognized credentials and certificates. The new application round for these grant funds is open to advanced industry and manufacturing businesses in Elkhart, Marshall or St. Joseph counties.
“The Regional Skills Accelerator is a vital tool for ensuring our workforce is prepared for the future,” said Alayna Wort, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership program manager, talent development, in a press release. “By helping employees gain industry-recognized skills and credentials, we’re not only supporting individual career growth but also strengthening the Region’s economic resilience. This program allows companies to embrace innovation while investing in the people who drive their success.”
Companies can be approved for up to $15,000 per fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, with a commitment to a 1:1 match to the grant funds. Each company must work with one of the authorized training partners: Goshen College, Indiana University South Bend, Ivy Tech or Purdue MEP.
The program is in partnership with Labs for Industry Futures at the University of Notre Dame’s IDEA Center, Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County, Marshall County Economic Development Corp. and the South Bend Regional Chamber. Fifty companies have taken part in the Regional Skills Accelerator to date. Learn more here.
