Ribbon Cutting Launches Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Training Hub at WestGate@Crane

Written from press release

CRANE, Ind. — Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and Reliable MicroSystems (Rel-Micro) marked a milestone in workforce development Monday with the ribbon cutting of the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics (ME) Training Hub at WestGate@Crane Technology Park.

The new hub, which features state-of-the-art classrooms and lab facilities, is designed to prepare students for careers in microelectronics, a field critical to both national defense and advanced industry. The training space includes advanced workstations, electronic testing equipment, a cleanroom, and specialized software used across the sector.

By locating the hub within Rel-Micro’s engineering environment, students will gain hands-on experience while working alongside industry professionals engaged in research, design, and prototyping.

The event also featured a student signing ceremony for the inaugural class of the Indiana Uplands ME Academy. Students from Bloomfield, Loogootee, and Washington high schools committed to a multi-year program offering dual-enrollment coursework, industry credentials, paid work experiences, and career exploration in microelectronics.

“The ME Hub is a cornerstone in ROI’s portfolio of ME projects and it represents a powerful collaboration to ensure that students and adults in the Indiana Uplands have exposure and pathways into one of the most critical industries of our time,” said Tina Peterson, ROI president and CEO.

Julia Buckley, chief operating officer of Rel-Micro, said hosting the hub will help align education with the needs of defense and industry. “This partnership will help ensure our region’s workforce begins developing the skills and experiences required for America’s microelectronics industry right here in the Indiana Uplands,” she said.

The initiative also introduced MOMENTUM: Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Workforce Development, a new brand for ROI’s portfolio of projects designed to grow the region’s advanced technology workforce pipeline.

Speakers emphasized the significance of the hub for both rural students and the defense sector anchored by Naval Support Activity Crane, the state’s third-largest naval installation and a key driver of Indiana’s $4 billion defense ecosystem.

“The ME Training Hub at WestGate@Crane is a critical addition to strengthening the workforce pipeline that supports NSWC Crane and the broader defense industrial base,” said Dr. Angela Lewis, technical director at NSWC Crane.

Loogootee schools assistant superintendent Dr. Shelley Christmas added that the academy is a “game-changer” for rural students. “It opens doors to exciting, high-tech careers that they may never have considered possible,” she said.

The ME Training Hub, Academy, and MOMENTUM program are supported by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program. Together, they aim to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals, strengthen U.S. competitiveness, and expand opportunities in southern Indiana.

For more information, visit regionalopportunityinc.org/microelectronics

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