NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Remote work learning opportunities announced

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INDIANAPOLIS (June 29, 2021) ??Today, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) announced that 20 remote work learning scholarships are being provided across nine agriculture organizations in partnership with the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD). Scholarships fully cover the cost for participants to complete PCRD?s Remote Work Certificate Program.?

?I am excited to announce these opportunities for rural Hoosiers to develop critical skills,? Crouch said. ?This comes at a great time as Indiana further invests in expanding broadband infrastructure.??

In 2020, the Lt. Governor?s family of business agencies announced the Rural Road to Recovery (RRR) initiative which resulted in the creation of blueprints for supporting Indiana's small cities and towns in the wake of COVID-19. Under RRR, ISDA prioritized increasing access and deployment of broadband services needed to support on-farm and farm household activities, with a particular focus on enhancing online remote workforce training opportunities for farm households seeking off-farm income options.

?Our goal here is to further support Indiana?s rural agricultural communities in the wake of COVID-19," said ISDA Director Bruce Kettler. ?As part of supporting our farm families and industry culture, we have new and creative possibilities to enable off-farm income and to close those skill gaps more quickly."

The below agriculture groups have teamed up with ISDA to allocate the 20 scholarships across Indiana. Each group received at least one scholarship to provide to awardees they selected:

• Agribusiness Council of Indiana
• American Dairy Association of Indiana
• Indiana Beef Cattleman Association
• Indiana Corn Marketing Council
• Indiana Farm Bureau
• Indiana Grown
• Indiana Pork Producers
• Indiana Soybean Alliance
• Indiana State Poultry Association

?Since 2005 remote work has grown by 173%,? said Roberto Gallardo, Director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development. ?Thirty percent of U.S. jobs could be done from home full time, and we are excited about this certificate program and the opportunities it gives to Indiana residents.?

Scholarship awardees will be trained via cohorts on project management, critical thinking, problem solving, time management, collaboration and professional organization. The certificate program has 9 modules totaling 30 hours of expected work. Upon completing the program, participants earn a dual certificate through Purdue University Extension and Utah State University. In addition, participants receive career coaching and are added to a large and growing networking community of program alumni.

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ABOUT ISDA
The?Indiana State Department of Agriculture?(ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. Administratively, ISDA reports to?Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana?s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.

ABOUT PCRD
The Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) seeks to pioneer new ideas and strategies that contribute to regional collaboration, innovation and prosperity. Founded in 2005, the Center partners with public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to identify and enhance the key drivers of innovation in regions across Indiana, the U.S. and beyond. These drivers include a vibrant and inclusive civic leadership, a commitment to collaboration, and the application of advanced data support systems to promote sound decision-making and the pursuit of economic development investments that build on the competitive assets of regions. Learn more at https://pcrd.purdue.edu/.