Don Wood Foundation launches $50M workforce development program for northeast Indiana

The Don Wood Foundation in Fort Wayne, Indiana, will organize its recently announced five-year, $50 million commitment to workforce development through three new grant programs to strengthen northeast Indiana’s next-generation manufacturing workers. The new Engaging Youth, Developing Talent, and Empowering Manufacturing programs will connect students with STEAM education, career exploration, technical training, and advanced manufacturing skills while helping employers adopt new technologies and upskill workers. Awards will be directed to schools, nonprofits, and industry partners across 12 Indiana counties. The effort is guided by the foundation’s strategic plan to address gaps in communication, problem-solving, and technology readiness across the region’s manufacturing economy.