EmployIndy, alongside our employer and school partners, gathered at the Dallara Experience Hub in Speedway to proudly recognized 17 modern youth apprentices who graduated from the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), as well as introduced a new fifth cohort of apprentices and employers participating in the program at the 2025 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event.  

MAP, a three-year program, connects Marion County high school students with local employers, providing a path toward discovering passions and developing skills to help them thrive in growing and in-demand industries including healthcare, information technology, education, business operations, financial services, and more.  

During their time in the program, each graduating apprentice from the first cohort earned their high school diploma, an hourly income from their employer, college credits, industry certifications and credentials, and first-hand, relevant job experience—multiplying their options after graduation. The new fifth cohort of 16 apprentices, selected from hundreds of applicants, will begin the program in their junior year of high school, splitting their time between the classroom and the workplace.  

“We're always excited to celebrate these groups of students who are taking control of their futures with the opportunity to earn money, college credit, and professional connections while still in school,” says Marie Mackintosh, President + CEO of EmployIndy. “Our employer partners are invaluable in not only equipping these young professionals with valuable skills, mentorship, and opportunities for long-term success, but also finding a strategic solution to close the skills gap and co-develop their next generation of workers.” 

As a talent strategy and experience offered through Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s career-connected learning continuum, MAP helps employers tap into diverse talent pools—building strong talent pipelines to meet both short- and long-term staffing needs. The program creates a structure for employers and educators to be part of workforce solutions while removing barriers, so all Marion County students have equitable access to career-ready training and jobs in high-demand fields.  

The Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event, taking place annually, marks the beginning of the apprentice-employer journey as the students sign a formal certificate of acceptance for their positions. As part of this commitment, the employer will mentor and support the student as they navigate an in-demand role within their respective organization. During the 3-year experience, EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, actively supports apprentices, employers, and general programmatic outcomes for Modern Apprenticeship.  

To learn more about Modern Apprenticeship (MAP), visit www.indymodernapprenticeship.com. 

On Wednesday, April 30th, EmployIndy hosted over 90 career coaching practitioners at the 2025 Career Coaching and Advising Summit, a full-day event designed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of those who work directly with K-12 and postsecondary students, ensuring they are well-equipped to support the seamless transitions into further education or the workforce our students need for successful futures. 

As businesses grow, the demand for workers with specialized skills and postsecondary training has become increasingly urgent as most jobs now require more than a high school education. However, navigating postsecondary options, including advanced training and certifications, can be challenging for both students and jobseekers, leading to low rates of persistence and completion. Coaching and career advising services that provide personalized guidance and support are essential to helping individuals choose the right education or training paths. 

“It’s vitally important for the career coaches and advisors in our community to be supported to help deliver the best possible outcome for our students, in a way that matches the needs of our employers and growing businesses,” says Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy’s president and CEO. “This summit, with the help of our ecosystem partners, was an important step towards this goal.” 

During the summit, attendees participated in a series of sessions aimed at deepening their understanding of career coaching and advising, including a keynote address by Carletta Clark, community and business development manager at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Session content centered around proven methodologies for career development, emphasizing effective approaches to guiding students in their career choices, growth and transitions. Attendees also heard directly from students who have benefitted from coaching and training, during a student panel that included participants from EmployIndy programs including Indy Achieves, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) and YES Indy.  

Information and guidance vital to providing quality coaching and advising was a strong focus at the summit, including trends in labor market information (LMI) and helpful tools to ensure career guidance is meeting both current and future job market needs. Throughout the summit, participants had the opportunity to connect with fellow advisors, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions to the challenges they encounter in their work. 

To learn more about EmployIndy’s work in providing guidance to career coaches and advisors, visit www.employindy.org. 

Indianapolis – March 11, 2025 – This morning, Mayor Joe Hogsett, EmployIndy, and Indy Parks kicked off the summer hiring season by announcing the 2025 edition of the Project Indy summer jobs initiative at Frederick Douglass Park. Project Indy is currently offering 257 available positions from over 160 local employers. Through its online platform at projectindy.net, it is now easier than ever for young people to get connected to employers who are hiring.

“The City of Indianapolis is thrilled to be kicking off yet another year of our youth employment initiative,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Over the course of nearly a decade, Project Indy has helped our young people not only to stay busy while earning a fair wage, but also to develop the essential skills and experience that will lead them on to high-quality, long-term employment as adults.”

Project Indy was launched in 2016 by Mayor Hogsett alongside EmployIndy, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC), and the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY). Since its launch, Project Indy has empowered over 19,200 young adults in Marion County by providing work experiences that build their employability skills and allow them to explore new career fields. During that time, 339 employers have posted open positions on the portal.

Youth ages 16-24 can get started using Project Indy’s virtual job board by simply texting “ProjectIndy” to 317-659-9657. This easy-to-use online platform utilizes text messaging to recruit and onboard job seekers. It also includes a location-based tool that works to connect youth to nearby opportunities as well as filtering job opportunities by interest. Once registered, job seekers can easily apply to any of the hundreds of open positions by providing a few pieces of basic information.

By hiring in-school and out-of-school youth throughout Marion County, local employers provide employability skill development and job-readiness training, playing an important role in training our future workforce. Employers, such as Project Indy partner Indy Parks, benefit by creating a talent pipeline for their business or industry.

“Indy Parks provides high quality job opportunities for our youth by allowing them to serve their community and build a strong foundation for their careers,” said Frederick Douglass Park Manager Derrick Miller. “Whether it’s as a lifeguard, camp counselor, or food program staff, our summer jobs are a great place for young people to work and learn.”

EmployIndy, which administers Project Indy, will continue promoting the virtual platform through face-to-face recruiting at Indianapolis-area high schools, targeted social media campaigns, and at local youth hiring fairs. In 2024, over 1,575 young people in Indianapolis were connected to job opportunities through Project Indy.

“Our team works directly with education and workforce partners to promote Project Indy as a valuable Career-Connected Learning initiative for both youth and employers” said EmployIndy President + CEO, Marie Mackintosh. “For employers, specifically, Project Indy is an opportunity to modernize their recruitment strategy and co-develop our city’s next generation of talent.”

In 2018, EmployIndy, in partnership with the City of Indianapolis and the Indy Chamber, launched Job Ready Indy, an online employability skills program focused on providing the soft skills needed to succeed in the workplace. When an individual completes one of the online courses, a Job Ready Indy badge will appear on their Project Indy profile – notifying an interested employer that they are deemed by EmployIndy and the Indy Chamber as someone who demonstrates the “job-ready” skills important to the workplace.

Employers interested in hiring youth can sign up to be a Project Indy partner here. Youth interested in joining the Project Indy platform can get started by simply texting “ProjectIndy” to 317-659-9657 or visiting projectindy.net.