MADE@Plainfield Focuses on Workforce Pipeline
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThere is a new resource in Hendricks County for residents to prepare for in-demand jobs in areas like logistics and robotics. In July, officials celebrated the opening of MADE@Plainfield, a 100,000-square-foot center designed to build a better bridge for post-secondary education and training. Hendricks College Network Executive Director Brandy Wethington Perrill says a significant portion of the program is geared towards the logistics sector.
The facility features labs specific to workforce training, such as robotics, computer science and medical fields. Perrill discussed the facility and the potential for growth in an interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
“Industry sector partnerships have always been important to us. But that industry [logistics] in our region is a big one,” said Wethington Perrill. “We listened to what the needs were. We listened to what we listened to what the pay was. We talked to them about what was working and what wasn’t.”
Perrill says those ongoing discussions help to guide the development of curriculum and future training courses.
“We’re able to implement a lot of training that’s happening right here in this facility. We’ve got robotics, automation, industrial maintenance, all kinds of supply chain classes that are really going to contribute to the workforce,” said Perrill.
The partners involved in the facility include Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Indiana Fire & Public Safety Academy, WorkOne, Hendricks College Network, and the Plainfield Community School Corp. Perrill says this is just the beginning of potential growth.
“I feel like we’re almost bursting at the seams. We’re looking at four-year partners and talking with both Indiana State University and Purdue to do some STEM programming as well,” said Perrill. “I think we’ve got a lot of potential to grow this and who knows what the future holds. Maybe we’ll even start expanding soon.”
Some of the post-secondary courses, training opportunities, and certificates offered at the facility include industrial maintenance, robotics, supply chain, CDL training, medical assisting and information technology. Perrill says the MADE@Plainfield education partners will also create customized workforce training courses for specific businesses.