GOSHEN, Ind. – Horizon Education Alliance (HEA) has been selected as one of only 12 regional organizations to serve as a connector for the new Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP), a statewide initiative to prepare Hoosier students for in-demand careers and help businesses build a skilled workforce.

HEA will serve as the official INCAP Connector for Region B, a role that leverages its six years of proven success as the leader of CareerWise Elkhart County.

This selection follows a highly competitive statewide process. Ascend Indiana, the lead implementation partner for INCAP, issued a request for proposals that drew interest from 35 organizations. From 19 organizations invited to submit full proposals, a Governing Committee of the CEMETS iLab Indiana coalition — representing over 300 leaders from business, education, government, and philanthropy — selected the final 12 regional connectors. HEA was chosen for its deep relevant experience, strong regional focus, and demonstrated partnerships with K-12 schools, employers, and postsecondary institutions.

“This is a powerful validation of the collaborative model we’ve built right here in Elkhart County,” said Sarah Metzler, President & CEO of Horizon Education Alliance. “Our work with CareerWise has shown that youth apprenticeship transforms futures for students and solves talent challenges for businesses. We are honored and ready to apply this expertise to expand these opportunities across our northern Indiana region.”

As an INCAP Connector, HEA will receive a planning grant to develop a detailed regional implementation strategy. This role includes recruiting high school students for paid, multi-year apprenticeships, supporting participating schools, and coordinating with Industry Talent Associations in six critical sectors: advanced manufacturing & logistics, banking, construction, healthcare, IT, and life sciences. Once the plan is approved in early 2026, HEA will receive additional implementation funding. In total, the 12 connector organizations will be awarded $1.2 million in grants, part of a $9.6 million commitment from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation to launch INCAP.

“Local communities know their own needs best, which is why we opted to establish a regional structure for the organizations serving as INCAP Connectors,” said Claire Fiddian-Green, president & CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and co-chair of CEMETS iLab Indiana.

The INCAP initiative is modeled on Switzerland’s world-class career preparation system and is being spearheaded by the CEMETS iLab Indiana coalition, with the Fairbanks Foundation funding its creation and launch. Since 2016, the foundation has invested nearly $25 million in youth apprenticeship pilots and pathways. The coalition has set an ambitious goal for INCAP: to provide education and training to 50,000 Hoosiers by 2034.

For HEA, this role is a natural extension of its mission to connect schools, businesses, and the community to strengthen the workforce. Through CareerWise Elkhart County, HEA has already created the state’s most active youth apprenticeship hub, achieving a 150% increase in student opportunities last year and placing more apprentices than any other region in Indiana.

Student recruitment for the first INCAP apprenticeships, which begin in fall 2026, will start early next year. Students will split time between the workplace and classroom, with at least 50% of their time spent in paid, on-the-job training.

About Horizon Education Alliance & CareerWise Elkhart County

Horizon Education Alliance connects schools, businesses, and the community to increase educational attainment, strengthen the workforce, and ensure every individual succeeds. Through its CareerWise Elkhart County initiative, HEA has become a statewide leader in modern youth apprenticeship, creating a replicable model for student success and employer partnership.

Read more about INCAP at https://indianacap.org/about/#connectors