Regional Skills Accelerator

READY TO RE-SKILL/UPSKILL AND TRAIN

As the nature of work changes, the need for a reskilled/upskilled workforce emerges. The South Bend – Elkhart region has created a resource, Regional Skills Accelerator, addressing the workforce training demands of industry, a company driven model supporting employers’ automation efforts as they transition to a more digital economy.

The Regional Skills Accelerator offers training grants supporting employee skill development and earning of industry recognized credentials and certificates. The Regional Skills Accelerator pilot will encourage an innovation-led employee empowerment culture, addressing skill sets that are critical today and tomorrow while supporting regional companies with their digital upskilling transformation journey.

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership (SBE Regional Partnership) will work with the region’s Lead Economic Development Organization partners (LEDOs), iNDustry Labs Engineer in Residence (ENIRs), and education training program partners to amplify continuous learning opportunities, improve employee retention and confidence, and encourage diversified workforce environments in companies throughout the South Bend – Elkhart region.

ELIGIBILITY

Company Requirements

The model of the Regional Skills Accelerator aligns directly with the aims of the overall initiative to increase productivity, improve resilience, and increase the supply of an advanced workforce for our region’s companies. To receive short term training education subsidies as part of this accelerator, employer eligibility requirements are as follows:

The company must be an Advanced Industry and/or Manufacturing Sector private industry firm.
Company must be a private industry organization located within Elkhart, Marshall, or St. Joseph counties.
The training chosen must be short term and earn an industry recognized credential or certification from an approved training provider.
Employees must be full-time employees of the company.
Employees who participate in training must receive either a cash bonus or wage increase upon completion.

HOW IT WORKS

About the Regional Skills Accelerator

1 IDENTIFY

Employers identify the specific workforce training needs for their respective company.

2 DESIGN

Company recognizes a skill deficiency or an upskill needed in their workforce and identifies local industry recognized training credentials or certificates that will benefit the employer.

3 ESTABLISH

Company designates related training provider(s) from pre-approved partner list provided by the Regional Skills Accelerator.

4 RECRUIT

Company identifies overall plan for Regional Skills Accelerator to select either internal full-time employees and/or external future full-time employees.

5 APPLY

Company applies for approval via link provided for application. The review committee will meet on a monthly ongoing basis to approve or deny applications and will be notified as such by the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership.

6 LAUNCH

Company launches accelerator and training provider receives subsidy of up to $750 per employee from the Regional Skills Accelerator to offset related training instruction costs per employee. The maximum amount a company can be awarded per year is $15,000.

7 MONITOR

Company agrees to share with the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership a copy of the credential or certificate gained through this accelerator once instruction is completed.

TRAINING FUND

CONTACT AND CONSIDERATIONS

APPLY

We appreciate your interest! Please complete the Regional Skills Accelerator application below. Upon submission, your company’s application will be reviewed by the Regional Skills Accelerator Review Committee during the committee’s monthly meeting. Once a decision has been reached, you will be notified by the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership.

The review committee is made up of representatives of all LEDO’s in each county, iNDustry Labs ENIR, and a member of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership.