Courtney Kerr, Author at CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership

Ascend Indiana Launches Regional Work-Based Learning Support Network and Resource Hub

Courtney Kerr2026-03-25T16:51:42-04:00March 25, 2026|

Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), announced today a statewide initiative to support Indiana schools and employers in developing and implementing high-quality work-based learning experiences for high school students. In partnership with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), Ascend developed and launched a comprehensive set of resources that provides step-by-step guidance, examples and design considerations aligned with Indiana’s updated high school graduation requirements. Ascend has also established and equipped a network of regional partners that will coordinate, expand and enable high-quality WBL across the state. As Indiana’s statewide workforce initiative, Ascend developed these work-based learning resources and accompanying network in response to the state’s high school diploma redesign, which requires students graduating with a readiness seal to have completed sustained WBL experiences aligned to career pathways. “Beginning with the [...]

TechPoint Launches Expanded Statewide Tech Job Board Powered by Ascend Indiana

Courtney Kerr2026-03-19T09:47:48-04:00March 19, 2026|

Indianapolis (March 19, 2026) – TechPoint, the industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy, today announced the launch of the new TechPoint Job Board powered by Ascend Indiana’s on-line job platform, the Ascend Network. The expanded, technology-enabled platform increases available tech job listings from less than a hundred to more than 1,000 across Indiana, creating broader access for job seekers and stronger hiring support for employers. The launch comes as Indiana’s tech sector faces a growing experience gap. According to TechPoint’s recent brief, AI Amplifies Need to Address Experience Gap, early-career workers ages 22–25 experienced a 13% relative decline in employment from late 2022 to mid-2025. As artificial intelligence reshapes hiring needs, employers increasingly seek candidates with hands-on experience, making it harder for young professionals to gain entry into the field. “Indiana’s tech economy is growing, but early-career [...]

BioCrossroads 2025 Annual Report: Indiana’s Life Sciences Ecosystem in 2025

Courtney Kerr2026-03-18T19:11:53-04:00March 18, 2026|

Advancing BioCrossroads' 10-Year Strategy INDIANAPOLIS (March 18, 2026)—BioCrossroads today released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting another landmark year for Indiana’s life sciences ecosystem. The report highlights BioCrossroads’ efforts to support robust talent pipelines, unprecedented economic impact, and national recognition of Indiana’s leadership in life sciences. Indiana remained number one in the nation for life sciences and pharmaceutical exports. The report also highlights continued growth and momentum across the state’s life sciences and healthcare sectors: $102 billion total economic contribution from Indiana’s life sciences industry; 70,000 Hoosiers employed in life sciences across 3,312 establishments; $177,000 average annual wage in life sciences; 386,100 healthcare workers across Indiana; 36 venture capital deals totaling approximately $190 million invested in Indiana life sciences companies in 2025. “By crossing the $100 billion threshold of total economic contribution, Indiana’s life sciences sector has reached a remarkable [...]

BioCrossroads 2025 Annual Report

Courtney Kerr2026-03-18T17:32:02-04:00March 18, 2026|

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Braun: $1B state investment in Indiana’s life sciences expected to create 100K jobs

Courtney Kerr2026-03-17T14:22:45-04:00March 17, 2026|

This post was originally published by Indianapolis Business Journal. Click here to read the original article. Seeking to position Indiana as a global leader in agritechnology and life sciences, Gov. Mike Braun unveiled a lofty goal in a public announcement Tuesday morning. Speaking at a press conference with Secretary of Commerce David Adams, Braun said the state will invest $1 billion over 10 years to boost life sciences-related businesses, with the goal of creating 100,000 jobs in those sectors. Braun said the new investment into human therapeutics, animal health, agritech, biotechnology and environmental innovation are part of his goal to create regional economic development plans by region. He said the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority, or CIRDA, will serve as the first “regional steward” over the initiative. CIRDA, an economic development alliance, represents more than 30 cities, towns and [...]

CICP Unveils New Business Name to Align Work and Impact Across Indiana

Courtney Kerr2026-03-11T08:55:15-04:00March 11, 2026|

Indianapolis (March 11, 2026) – With a clear purpose to drive economic growth and prosperity in Indiana, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership today announced plans to align its name with its strategic impact and collaborative efforts across the state. CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) will now serve as the organization’s doing business as (DBA) name, reflecting its 27-year legacy of advancing research, leading innovation, and expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs and workforce development. “Our new name reaffirms who we are as an organization while supporting our commitment to elevating advanced industries throughout Indiana,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of CICP. “As our board of directors represent CEOs and presidents of the state’s top corporate, academic, and philanthropic organizations , our identity leverages their expertise to tackle some of the state’s most challenging and inspiring opportunities. We lead with purpose and know [...]

More Than a Pitch: Cultivating Indiana’s Next Generation of Innovators

Courtney Kerr2026-03-05T16:52:07-05:00March 5, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. In the world of economic development, we often talk about "innovation" as a destination—a finished product, a funded startup, or a patent-pending technology. But at its core, innovation is a mindset. It is the ability to look at a complex problem and see a pathway toward a solution. For Indiana to remain competitive in a global economy, we need to cultivate that mindset early. On February 27, the Collegiate Entrepreneur Summit brought together students from across the state (and beyond) to bridge the gap between our world-class lecture halls and the real-world industries that power Indiana. Hosted by INtercollegiate Entrepreneurs, 16 Tech, CICP, and Butler Entrepreneurship, and powered by the [...]

CICP Launches Catalyst Scholars Fund to Drive Advanced Chemistry Innovation in Indiana

Courtney Kerr2026-03-05T09:52:48-05:00March 5, 2026|

Indianapolis (March 5, 2026) – The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) has announced the launch of the Catalyst Scholars Fund, which marks the first phase of a broader Advanced Chemistry strategy for Indiana. The strategy involves a coordinated effort to position Indiana as the national leader in the development and deployment of technologies needed to reshore and secure critical supply chains for medicines, animal health products, and agricultural inputs, which is a national security priority. The Catalyst Scholars Fund is a five-year initiative to enable Indiana’s leading STEM higher education institutions, including its four R1 research institutions (Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University Indianapolis, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame) along with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to attract world-class research teams in Advanced Chemistry through strategic cluster and eminent scholar recruitment. The Fund will provide matching support for [...]

Conexus Indiana Launches Industry Exchange Workshop Series to Accelerate Technology Adoption in Manufacturing and Logistics

Courtney Kerr2026-03-04T09:36:36-05:00March 4, 2026|

First workshop set for March 31 in Jeffersonville to support small and mid-sized companies INDIANAPOLIS – March 4, 2026 – Conexus Indiana, a statewide organization dedicated to strengthening Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, announced today the launch of the Industry Exchange workshop series, a hands-on learning program designed to help Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) companies navigate technology adoption and corresponding workforce challenges. The Industry Exchange workshop series open to all Indiana AML companies and brings practical frameworks and peer-to-peer learning to small and mid-sized manufacturing and logistics companies who need actionable guidance on building technology roadmaps, assessing digital readiness and aligning workforce strategy with technology investments. The series is informed by insights gathered through workshops and direct conversations with small and mid-sized AML companies across Indiana, which revealed that leaders clearly understand the value of digital [...]

AgriNovus Indiana announces new board leadership, welcomes new directors

Courtney Kerr2026-02-25T14:35:14-05:00February 25, 2026|

INDIANAPOLIS (February 25, 2026) — AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today that Trent Torrance, chief operating officer of United Animal Health, will serve as chair of the organization’s board of directors. The board unanimously approved Tim Bettington, executive vice president for Center of Strategic Growth at Elanco, as its vice chair. Phil Brewer, vice president of strategy at Keystone Cooperative, and Dr. Bernie Engel, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University, were also approved to the AgriNovus Executive Committee. Stéphane Frijia, president and CEO of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, and Drew Garretson, vice president of Innovation and Sustainability at Keystone Cooperative, were unanimously approved as additions to the organization’s Board of Directors. The board also approved the addition of Darren Dillenbeck, CEO of BW Fusion, Mike Jacob, board representative [...]

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