Northwest Indiana will be awarded a grant from the state for $1,511,580 to help create new jobs in the region’s manufacturing, health care and logistics industries, Ron Stiver, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development announced on June 8.

The grant will fund nine programs proposed by regional leaders. Two will be funded at Ivy Tech Northwest:

Next Generation Welding – Capacity will be boosted at Ivy Tech Community College’s Valparaiso campus to create an additional 118 welders. The grant will be used to fund entry, intermediate, and advanced welding training through Ivy Tech’s new fast-track program.

Manufacturing Camp -- To boost interest in manufacturing careers, officials from the Portage YMCA, Ivy Tech Community College and the Porter County Career Center have developed a one-week manufacturing camp for 8th graders. The camp consists of customized curriculum, plant tours, meetings with manufacturers, and tours of advanced laboratories. Forty-five eighth graders will participate.