Explore INCAP Programs

Leadership & Partners

Meet the organizations that lead, shape, and support the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway across the state.

A Statewide System Built on Shared Leadership

Working Together to Strengthen Indiana's Workforce

The Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway brings together employers, schools and other education and training providers, and community organizations to address the education and workforce challenges that led to INCAP’s creation. Together, these organizations are preparing more Hoosiers for in-demand opportunities and helping Indiana employers develop the skilled talent they need.

INCAP connects statewide coordination with employer-led industry expertise and regional implementation. Industry Talent Associations lead the development of Apprenticeship Programs for high schoolers and Career Programs for adults, while regional INCAP Connectors help coordinate high school apprenticeship opportunities in communities across the state. Regional chambers of commerce and local economic development organizations support employer engagement and student career exploration at the local level.

Together, these organizations help ensure INCAP programs respond to employer needs, are implemented consistently, and prepare participants with relevant skills for Indiana’s workforce.

How INCAP Works Across the State

INCAP brings together organizations with distinct but connected responsibilities. Each plays a role in keeping programs aligned with employer needs and supporting consistent implementation across Indiana.

Oversight and Coordination

Guide Strategy & Growth:
Two governing councils with representatives across industry, education, workforce development, government, and philanthropy help guide INCAP’s statewide direction, growth, and continued development

Industry Leadership

Shape Programs & Training:
Industry Talent Associations bring employers together to identify in-demand occupations, define the skills participants need, and develop INCAP programs, while also coordinating adult Career Programs across Indiana

Regional Support

Connect Students & Opportunities:
Regional INCAP Connectors work with Industry Talent Associations, employers, and schools to coordinate high school Apprenticeship Programs in communities across Indiana

Employer Connections

 Drive Employer Engagement:
Regional chambers of commerce support employer adoption of INCAP in their region and create career exploration opportunities for local students

Steering & Implementation Councils

Guiding the statewide growth of INCAP

The INCAP Steering Council and INCAP Implementation Council form a two-level governance structure, led by employers from the private sector and supported by state and regional partners, to guide the long-term success of INCAP.

INCAP Steering Council

  • Provides strategic leadership on INCAP governance, policy, and sustainability
  • Serves as the final approval body for INCAP
  • Reviews performance measures and monitors progress toward statewide goals
  • Approves new occupations recommended by Industry Talent Associations

INCAP Implementation Council

  • Coordinates implementation activities across stakeholders
  • Identifies and addresses operational challenges
  • Aligns activities and shares lessons learned across regions and industries
  • Drives statewide implementation by translating strategy into action and supporting program launch and expansion

Together, the two councils bring private-sector leadership, statewide stakeholder, and regional implementation perspectives into INCAP governance. See how the councils are structured and who is represented →

Industry Talent Associations

Bringing Employers together to lead INCAP

Industry Talent Associations (ITAs) bring together businesses within an industry to identify shared talent needs and develop the Apprenticeship Programs and Career Programs needed to address them. ITAs:

  • Help employers identify talent needs and select in-demand occupations for INCAP training
  • Engage employers in defining the knowledge and skills participants need for each occupation
  • Work with education and training providers to develop relevant materials
  • Recruit and support employers participating in INCAP programs
  • Establish consistent program standards and experiences across employers
  • Coordinate with regional INCAP Connectors to support high school Apprenticeship Programs
  • Recruit prospective adult participants and support employers participating in Career Programs

Through ITAs, employers drive decisions about occupations, relevant competencies, and program design, helping ensure participants graduate with workplace-ready skills and INCAP meets industry demand.

Find Your Industry Talent Association

Regional INCAP Connectors

Connecting High School Apprenticeships with Local Communities

Regional INCAP Connectors help coordinate INCAP Apprenticeship Programs for high school students across Indiana. Serving as a bridge among Industry Talent Associations, employers, schools, students, and families, Connectors help bring statewide apprenticeship opportunities to communities throughout their regions. INCAP Connectors:

  • Spread awareness of INCAP among schools, students, and families in their region
  • Connect schools and students with apprenticeship opportunities developed by Industry Talent Associations in partnership with their employers
  • Recruit and prepare students for apprenticeship opportunities
  • Coordinate regional implementation with schools, employers, and other partners
  • Support schools in integrating apprenticeship training with students’ high school experience
  • Communicate available occupations, recruitment timelines, and application cycles to students and families

Students, families, and schools can connect with their regional INCAP Connector to learn about apprenticeship opportunities available in their area and get help navigating the application process.

Find Your Regional INCAP Connector

Regional Chambers of Commerce

Supporting Employers and Students in their Community

Regional chambers of commerce and local economic development organizations support employer engagement and student career exploration at the local level. These organizations: 

  • Convene local employers, educators, and workforce partners around regional talent needs
  • Connect employers to Industry Talent Associations
  • Create opportunities for students to explore career options, such as career fairs, workplace tours, and employer engagement activities
  • Share information about INCAP within their communities
  • Promote employer success stories and student outcomes to encourage broader engagement

Putting the Model into Practice

The Indy Chamber is piloting this approach through the new LENS INCAP Apprenticeship Showcase, an event taking place in 2026 and 2027 to raise awareness of career opportunities in Indiana and promote INCAP as an option for Central Indiana students. Indy Chamber staff are documenting best practices and lessons learned in a playbook to share with regional chambers of commerce statewide so the career fair model and other employer and student engagement efforts can be replicated.

Learn More About the LENS INCAP Apprenticeship Showcase

How INCAP Governing Councils Are Structured

Bringing Private-Sector, State, and Regional Voices Together

To ensure the stakeholders involved in INCAP are represented in its governance, the two councils include representatives from the private sector, state government, and regional implementors. Both are chaired and convened by the private sector, with membership reflecting the different responsibilities of each council.

INCAP Steering Council: Executive-Level Governance

The Steering Council is responsible for statewide oversight and decision-making. It will meet once or twice each year and include no more than 15–20 members, with representation from the following groups:

 

Industry:

  • CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership CEO
  • Indiana Chamber of Commerce CEO

Private Foundations:

  • Lumina Foundation CEO
  • Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation CEO
  • Strada Education Foundation CEO

INCAP Implementation Council: Implementation-Level Governance

The Implementation Council ensures statewide coordination and is responsible for INCAP strategy and implementation. It will meet four to six times each year and include no more than 35–40 members, with representation from the following groups:

Industry:

  • Leader from each Industry Talent Association
  • One Indiana Chamber of Commerce representative
  • One Indy Chamber representative
  • One additional regional chamber of commerce representative (1-year term)

Foundations:

  • One representative from Lumina Foundation, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and Strada Education Foundation

Continue Exploring INCAP Governance & Impact

Governance & Impact Overview Why INCAP Was Created Impact & Vision for Indiana Replicating INCAP News & Media