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Home : Media : News
NEWS | July 20, 2016

Educational Partnership Agreement between NSWC Crane Division and Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc.

By NSWC Crane Public Affairs

July 20, 2016

CRANE, Ind.- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), signed an Education Partnership Agreement with Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. (ROI) in June.  The new agreement sets the stage for collaboration on a number of workforce development and educational initiatives within Southwest Central Indiana. 

ROI is a newly formed regional entity, which will help identify the skills and qualifications needed in the region's defense sector.  The information collected will be combined with similar information collected from the region's life sciences and advanced manufacturing employers, in order for ROI to develop programming at the K-12 and post-secondary level to better prepare the local workforce pool for future jobs.

ROI is one of the recipients of the $42 million grant earlier this year from the Lilly Endowment to further the implementation of a regional strategic plan in the areas of workforce development and quality of life.

"This partnership between Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and NSWC Crane not only signifies the importance that Crane places on education and workforce in Southwest Central Indiana, it also confirms Crane's commitment to supporting a region that has long been its home.  Working together we can strengthen Crane's capacity to fulfill its mission right here in SWCI (Southwest Central Indiana) and create opportunities for workers, of all ages and education levels, to secure high paying, quality jobs with one of the largest employers in our region and the state.  It's a win, win for us all," said Tina Peterson, Interim CEO of ROI.

"We are excited about our educational partnership with ROI," said Brian Blackwell, Director of Engagement for NSWC Crane. "It will provide the foundation for us to work together to better define and communicate our skillset needs in the future and collaborate on the development of programs to better equip the local workforce to meet our needs."

NSWC Crane will be among a number of regional employees participating in ROI's initial occupational needs assessment during the coming weeks in order to identify key skills and qualifications needed within the region for the future.

NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's warfighter.