Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
ODON – A significant advancement in building the region’s advanced microelectronics workforce pipeline was celebrated Monday with the opening of the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Training Hub at the WestGate@Crane Technology Park.
A large gathering of industry leaders, defense partners, educators, students and local officials attended the event that was hosted by Regional Opportunity Initiatives and Reliable MicroSystems.
Tina Peterson, ROI president and CEO, said the launch of the ME Training Hub at WestGate is “a major milestone” in a strategic effort to align education and workforce development, ensuring the Indiana Uplands continues to serve as a national leader in defense and advanced technology.
“Not so long ago, we had a strong but unrealized aspiration about making this a place for the types of technology we’re talking about today,” said Peterson.
She credited the collaboration of multiple partners across industry, government and academia to bring that vision to reality in a relatively short period of time.
ROI’s Indiana Uplands ME Training Hub is located within Reliable MicroSystems. The training hub features a dedicated classroom and lab space designed to immerse students in hands-on learning experiences. Students have access to advanced workstations, electronic testing and design equipment, a training cleanroom, and specialized software used across the microelectronics industry. The facility is outfitted for dual-enrollment coursework, technical training, and applied projects that mirror real-world defense and industry needs.
Attendees toured both ROI’s new Indiana Uplands ME Training Hub and Rel-Micro’s facility, gaining firsthand insight into how K-12 schools, post-secondary schools, industry, and defense partners are collaborating to prepare the next generation of microelectronics talent.
A student signing ceremony marked the inaugural cohort of the Indiana Uplands ME Academy. Students from Bloomfield, Loogootee and Washington high schools signed on as the first cohort, committing to a multi-year experience that will provide hands-on training, dual-enrollment coursework, industry-recognized credentials, paid job experiences, and career exploration in the high-tech, high-demand field of microelectronics.
Washington High School has five students in this first cohort. WHS teacher Matt Riney said the school has placed an emphasis on STEM learning the past several years, which has helped prepare students for the ME Academy. In the past two years, two WHS students have served as interns at Reliable MicroSystems.
“The work they’re doing is going to make a difference. Whether they decide to work for the government or in the private sector, the skills they are learning will make them highly competitive and marketable for future job prospects,” Riney said.
ROI unveils new name
As part of the event, ROI also introduced “MOMENTUM: Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Workforce Development,” the new name for its portfolio of workforce projects aligned with local ME career opportunities specific to the Uplands region. MOMENTUM reflects the region’s accelerating collaboration with K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions, industry, and defense partners to build a vertically aligned talent pipeline in one of America’s most critical technology sectors.
“The ME Hub is a cornerstone in ROI’s portfolio of ME projects and it represents a powerful collaboration to ensure that students and adults in the Indiana Uplands have exposure and pathways into one of the most critical industries of our time,” said Peterson in prepared remarks. “With the launch of MOMENTUM, we’re uniting education, workforce, and national security priorities under one banner that signals our commitment to sustained progress while positioning our region and our young people for long-term success.”
Rel-Micro emphasized the importance of connecting education with industry needs. “We are proud to host the ME Training Hub within our facility and partner with ROI to give students direct access to the tools, expertise, and environment where innovation happens every day,” said Julia Buckley, chief operating officer of Reliable MicroSystems. “This partnership will help to ensure that our region’s workforce begins developing the skills and experiences required for America’s microelectronics industry right here in the Indiana Uplands.”
“The ME Training Hub at WestGate@Crane is a critical addition to strengthening the workforce pipeline that supports NSWC Crane and the broader defense industrial base,” said Dr. Angela Lewis, Technical Director at NSWC Crane. “By equipping students with skills aligned to the needs of our installations and industry partners, this initiative ensures the Indiana Uplands is not only preparing young people for high-value careers but also advancing national security through a resilient and ready talent pool.”