Indiana is set to receive $51 million in federal funding to kick-start its workforce development and startup support initiatives as part of the new Tech Hubs Program, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday morning.

Indiana’s Heartland BioWorks Hub was one of 12 hubs chosen to split $500 million in implementation funding stemming from the CHIPS and Science Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. The CHIPS and Science Act was co-authored by U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana. CHIPS is an acronym for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors.

The award builds on the state’s initial designation last October as one of 31 federal hubs across the country (chosen from nearly 380 applicants). The Heartland BioWorks Hub is also one of three hubs based in Indiana and is meant to convene an innovation-focused ecosystem of companies and research entities in targeted sectors.

“Indiana’s new tech hub designation has opened our state up to a next level of opportunities,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement early Tuesday. “Now that we have been awarded nearly $51 million to support the implementation, it’s full steam ahead in workforce development and building the specific talent pipelines to support the exact type of innovative business growth and entrepreneurship we want.”

The allotment is a “tremendous” win for the Applied Research Institute, the hub petitioner and organizer, and the larger state biotech sector, CEO David Roberts told IBJ. The award is a reflection of the decades of state and private investment in the animal and plant sector, he said.

Roberts attributed the award to industry leaders in the state—such as Eli Lilly and Co., Corteva Agriscience and Elanco Animal Health—and higher-education partners, including Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University, who have embraced and collaborated in these efforts. 

“What we do know is … that is a region that is ready with all the right ingredients to be really kind of supercharged for growth over the next few decades,” Roberts said. “That probably is something that set us apart.”

Indiana is home to three federal tech hub designations, which Roberts said is an “overwhelming” accomplishment. The state also houses the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub, which received $33 million initially and is awaiting more funding decisions within the year, and the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, or MachH2, Hub, which could receive upward of $1 billion in grant funding.

“We really put these three on the board and said, ‘We got to win at least one of these,’” Roberts said. “We’re just humbled and thrilled that we’re now three for three.”

The funding serves as a “seal of approval that we are this global leader in biotech manufacturing and will be for the foreseeable future,” said Andrew Kossack, executive vice president for partnerships and general counsel for the Applied Research Institute. “It’s just great news for the state and a great recognition of [Young’s] efforts.”

New programs, grants and a headquarters

The money will fund several initiatives falling into two buckets: workforce development (a top priority across the board for ARI) and support for early-stage companies. 

Kossack said the hub’s workforce development programming seeks to supply the growing industry with needed workers. ARI will work with its higher-education partners to develop training and upskilling programs specifically for the sector.

Another program will allow early-stage entrepreneurs and companies to apply for grants to access often cost-prohibitive product-development facilities. ARI also seeks to build a network of resources, funding opportunities, mentors and facilities to support young, innovative companies.

The two priorities converge through the creation of a training and demonstration facility, referred to as BioWorks HQ, at 16 Tech in Indianapolis, Kossack said. Several training programs will be launched out of the location, and startup leaders will have access to wraparound support.

It boils down to creating a “flywheel” of talent and activity, Kossack said, leading to more employers establishing themselves in Indiana. 

The next step for ARI with the bioworks hub is to negotiate contracts. After that, more details and timelines will be available.

ARI said anyone interested in learning more or getting involved with the hub and its programs should reach out to heartlandbioworks@theari.us or connect through the hub website. 

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MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (CBS) — A powerful military procession was held in the Chicago area Monday night for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Lee Fassoth.

Fassoth, 27, of Merrillville, passed away on June 18 while on active duty. He was 27.

The Illinois Patriot Guard led the procession, which started at O’Hare International Airport and made its way all the way to the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel in Merrillville. The procession traveled through Indiana along Route 30.

The Indiana Patriot Guard took over at Dyer Town Hall, and a flag was hung over the procession in Schererville, Indiana, according to a witness report. 

People lined the streets along the route to honor the fallen soldier.

According to his obituary, Fassoth enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard during his junior year at Merrillville High School and completed his training as an infantryman in 2015—the same year he graduated.

Fassoth was assigned to the 2-151 Infantry Regiment with the Indiana Army National Guard, the Headquarters Support Company at the U.S. Army Training Center in Fort Jackson, South Carolina; and the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training in Fort Eustis, Virginia, according to the obit.

“Brandon loved being an infantryman, training and mentoring soldiers, and all aspects of being a soldier in the U.S. Army,” the obit read. “Brandon enjoyed hiking, reading, and spending time with his cat, Fireball. He traveled the country seeking new hiking adventures and off-the-beaten-path locations to photograph. He loved being in the company of family and friends, sharing conversations and laughs. Fireball was his best fur friend, whom he loved dearly. He completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was pursuing his master’s degree. Throughout his military career, he completed multiple Army schools, including Air Assault and Joint Forces Leader Development.”

The obit story did not specify how Fassoth died.

The number of Hoosier families using an Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA)—meant to help students who require special education services—is up 200% for the upcoming school year, the Indiana Treasurer of State announced Monday.

The agency said more than 50% of the $10 million appropriated for ESAs in the 2024-25 academic year has already been committed to eligible students. The program application deadline is still two months away, on Sept. 1.

The office said that between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, the number of K-12 students with disabilities who applied for and received ESA dollars increased by more than 200%. 

Provider participation also increased by more than 130% for that same time period – with more joining “each week,” according to the treasurer’s office. 

Additionally, nonpublic schools educating ESA students increased by more than 350% between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 terms. 

“These numbers are proof positive that this program is hitting the mark with parents and nonpublic schools, and our provider pool is growing across the state,” said Tina Kaetzel, executive director of the ESA program within the state treasurer’s office. “That provider data point is crucial, because providers are significantly instrumental to both parents and nonpublic schools in providing support and services to customize education for our special-needs kids.” 

Kaetzel said the ESA program is continuing to grow, noting that 20% more providers are registered with the program for the 2024-25 school year compared to the year prior. The number of non-public schools participating in the program has additionally grown by 50%, compared to the 2023-24 school year. 

“We’re seeing strong activity, with more applications coming each day—so parents will have their best chance of funding availability if they apply now,” Kaetzel said.

To be eligible for an ESA, school-aged Hoosiers must have an active service plan, Individualized Education Plan or Choice Special Education Plan (CSEP). They must also have an income below 400% of the Federal Free or Reduced School Meals limit, according to the Indiana Department of Education.

Accounts set up by the state treasurer’s office provide each qualifying student with thousands of dollars for private school tuition and various other educational services from providers outside of their school district.

Other expenses can include transportation, examinations and assessments, occupational therapy, paraprofessional or education aides, training programs and more.

The ESA program was created by the General Assembly in 2021 despite pushback from public education advocates who argued that the program lacks oversight and takes money away from traditional public schools.

During the 2024 legislative session, a top state Republican lawmaker floated a bill to eliminate the ESA program in favor of a new grant program that would allow all Hoosier families, regardless of income, to choose where their students get educated. 

The proposal did not advance, but discussion around the measure previewed possible legislative momentum in 2025.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, not-for-profit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.

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