Fox 59
David Gay
September 9, 2025

https://fox59.com/indianapolitics/braun-indiana-office-of-commerce-announce-power-up-indiana-initiative/

 

INDIANAPOLIS — “The talent you need is already on the job. Now, let’s empower them.”

 

That’s the message of Power Up Indiana, a new initiative announced by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and the Indiana Office of Commerce on Tuesday.

 

According to a news release from Braun’s office, Power Up Indiana incentivizes employers to “invest within by training and promoting current jobholders.” This comes as officials with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development state that Indiana is at “full employment.”

 

“Power Up Indiana targets incentives to established Hoosier businesses and workers,” Braun said in the release. “We are growing employees’ paychecks while strengthening Indiana companies.”

“Power Up Indiana targets incentives to established Hoosier businesses and workers,” Braun said in the release. “We are growing employees’ paychecks while strengthening Indiana companies.”

The initiative’s website states that employers will be rewarded through upskill training, so employers can be ready for the skills needed for high-value and high-paying jobs. The purpose of the initiative is to:

• Celebrate companies already leading in upskilling
• Shift Indiana’s economic development focus toward talent capacity
• Equip more employers to do the same through clear incentives and accessible tools
• Strengthen regional and sector-based partnerships that can scale impact statewide

“It recognizes and rewards companies that train, retrain and advance talent from within,” the website states, “and builds a culture of lifelong learning across the state.”

 

The initiative is open to Indiana businesses of all sizes, the release said, “from manufacturers and healthcare providers to logistics firms and Main Street employers.” The initiative has the following eligibility requirements:

• Indiana-based company
• Company is upskilling current employees through training, certifications or leadership pathways
• Tracking growing wages.

For participants in the initiative, the release said the provided training solutions are tailored to the respective companies. Officials said that funding reimbursement for the training is also available.

 

“This is how we reward leadership, raise wages, and make Indiana more competitive—one worker at a time,” Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Adams said in the release. “This program marks a significant step toward a more competitive, future-ready workforce.” 

 

According to a news release from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Todd Hurst, the chamber’s senior vice president of strategic partnerships and impact, praised the new initiative.

 

“We applaud the Governor’s focus on upskilling that leads to advancement retention and a stronger economy in Indiana,” Hurst said in the release. “We think the Power Up initiative is aligned to support the talent needs of the state and will be beneficial to Hoosier enterprises.

 

“We look forward to working with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development in communicating about the program and helping employers advance their talent development strategies,” he continued. “This will give employers the tools needed to upscale their teams.”

 

For more information about the Power Up Indiana initiative, click here.