Working to grow employer & K-12 connections across county

InvestEd program launches thanks to support from Duke Energy, local chambers & Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Invest Hamilton County has launched a new initiative, InvestEd, focused on work-based-learning (WBL) experiences for K-12 students throughout Hamilton County.

Invest Hamilton County’s role primarily focuses on the employer connections necessary to facilitate the more than 1,000 high school WBL experiences projected for Fall 2024 between the six local school districts. Other local partners include the OneZone, Westfield, and Noblesville Chambers of Commerce.

Thibideau

“The state of Indiana is in a time of transformation regarding work-based-learning experiences, and Hamilton County schools as always are at the leading edge of these innovations,” Invest Hamilton County President & CEO Mike Thibideau said. “Our network of business partners, many of whom are already directly engaged with schools, are looking for resources and coordination to help manage the volume of opportunity these expansions represent for students and businesses.”

Invest Hamilton County received an Intermediary Capacity Expansion Grant directly from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) and is an intermediary partner in the Central Indiana Education Services Center’s (CIESC) Career Coaching Grant. The organization also received additional support for InvestEd programming from the Duke Energy Foundation.

LaBarr

“Duke Energy is proud of our dynamic community partnerships and relationships,” Duke Energy Government and Community Relations Manager Mark LaBarr said. “As a local employer and community partner, we see the value this initiative will bring to local schools, businesses, and most importantly students.”

To learn more about these programs, visit investhamiltoncounty.com/initiatives/invested.