INDIANAPOLIS — The state of Indiana will receive a combined $9.1 million in federal grants aimed at expanding registered apprenticeship programs and providing reentry services for formerly incarcerated adults, Gov. Mike Braun announced Wednesday.
Funding targets apprenticeships and reentry
The awards include a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor intended to strengthen apprenticeship opportunities in advanced manufacturing, a sector state officials say lacks sufficient registered apprenticeship options. An additional $5.1 million comes through a RESTART grant that will focus on connecting adults age 25 and older who were formerly incarcerated to employment, training and registered apprenticeships in high-demand industries.
State officials say portions of the manufacturing grant will support local workforce boards and apprenticeship navigators whose task is to recruit employers and link jobseekers to programs.
How the money will be used
- Direct training and instructional costs for apprentices
- Supportive services for participants in reentry programs
- Employer incentives to hire and train formerly incarcerated adults
- Funding for local workforce board activities and apprenticeship navigators
According to the announcement, about $4.3 million of the RESTART grant will go to local workforce boards to provide direct training, supportive services and employer incentives.
"With these new grants, my administration will continue developing Indiana's tremendous workforce, preparing them for the careers of the future," Gov. Mike Braun said in a release.
The grants align with an executive order Braun signed last year that seeks to lower Indiana's recidivism rate by expanding pathways to employment and training for people leaving incarceration.
Context and statewide apprenticeship landscape
Indiana ranks second nationally in apprenticeships per capita, according to the governor's office. State Commerce Secretary Chuck Goodrich noted that nearly 14,000 new apprentices have been added since Braun took office. Officials framed the new federal funds as a way to build on that momentum and reach populations and industries that remain underserved.
| Grant | Amount | Primary focus |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. DOL apprenticeship grant | $4,000,000 | Advanced manufacturing apprenticeships; workforce boards and navigators |
| RESTART grant | $5,100,000 | Reentry services for formerly incarcerated adults (25+); training and employer incentives |
State officials emphasized that the funding is intended to be distributed through existing workforce infrastructure — notably local workforce development boards that administer training and support services. That local distribution model is intended to tailor resources to community needs and employer demand.
Practical implications for jobseekers and employers
For jobseekers, particularly those reentering their communities after incarceration, the RESTART funds are meant to lower barriers to employment by covering training costs and providing supportive services, such as transportation, tools or credentialing fees. Employer incentives are designed to reduce the upfront costs of hiring and training new workers through registered apprenticeship models.
For employers, the manufacturing-focused grant aims to expand pipelines for skilled workers in sectors where apprenticeship penetration remains limited. Apprenticeship navigators, funded in part by the grant, will help employers design and register programs and connect with potential apprentices.
Officials view apprenticeships as a strategy not only for individual career pathways but also for addressing labor shortages in high-demand fields. The administration framed the move as continuing an agenda to prepare Indiana's workforce for technological and manufacturing shifts.
Detailed guidance on how local workforce boards and employers can apply for the funds or partner with the state was not included in the announcement. State agencies typically publish implementation plans and application materials on their websites as grant awards are finalized.
The grants mark another federal infusion into Indiana's workforce system at a time when state leaders are emphasizing skills-based hiring and alternative pathways to employment outside traditional four-year degrees.
