Across Marion County, home to Indianapolis and a diverse network of communities and industries, EmployIndy plays a central role in shaping how workforce systems respond to both opportunity and need. As the Workforce Development Board for Marion County, EmployIndy guides the local workforce ecosystem, making strategic investments that expand access, remove barriers, and connect residents to quality employment aligned with employer demand.
Under the leadership of President and CEO Ken L. Clark, EmployIndy works at the intersection of business, education, and community. Guided by a board of civic, industry, and nonprofit leaders, the organization invests more than $20 million annually to support both youth and adult workforce strategies. EmployIndy is focused on ensuring that all Marion County residents have access to the tools, training, and support needed to secure a livable wage and grow within a meaningful career pathway.
That work takes shape through a system designed to connect people to opportunity across the region. EmployIndy serves as a bridge between employers and job seekers, helping businesses build sustainable talent pipelines while empowering individuals to explore career options, gain real-world experience, and find work that aligns with their goals. Through initiatives like Talent Bound, Project Indy, the Good Wages Initiative, and the Modern Apprenticeship Program, EmployIndy is advancing a workforce model that is responsive to employer needs and grounded in equity.
One example of this work in action is the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), a model that is creating new pathways for young people across Marion County to gain hands-on experience while earning college credit and developing professional skills. For students like Abigail Ortiz, the program has been transformative.
Introduced to the program during high school, Abigail entered the Modern Apprenticeship Program at a time when the world felt uncertain. Through her placement with AES Indiana, she gained exposure to real-world business operations, built confidence, and developed essential skills such as time management, communication, and initiative. What began as an opportunity to explore quickly became a foundation for long-term success.
For employers, the program offers equal value. By engaging students early, companies are able to shape talent, strengthen retention, and build workforce pipelines that meet both immediate and future needs. The results are clear, with strong retention rates and measurable return on investment, demonstrating that when workforce strategies are designed with intention, they deliver for both individuals and businesses.
EmployIndy’s work is strengthened through its engagement with Midwest Urban Strategies, where collaboration, shared learning, and access to national expertise support continued growth and innovation. Through the MUS network, EmployIndy has explored new approaches to funding, strengthened its work through a community of practice, and gained insights that help inform local implementation.
That spirit of innovation and alignment extends beyond any single program. EmployIndy has emerged as a national leader in advancing career-connected learning, helping students earn college credit while gaining real-world experience in high-demand industries. Through initiatives like Accelerate ED and the New Skills ready network, EmployIndy has helped shape statewide frameworks for career coaching, expanded access to postsecondary pathways, and strengthened connections between education and industry.
In 2025 alone, EmployIndy facilitated more than 38,000 career-connected learning experiences for young people, reflecting both the scale and the intentional design of its work.
As Marion County continues to grow and evolve, EmployIndy remains focused on building a workforce system that is equitable, connected, and prepared for the future. By aligning partners, investing in people, and creating pathways that lead to meaningful work, EmployIndy is helping define what a modern workforce system can achieve when it is built with purpose.
