Microelectronics Training Hub Opens at WestGate Tech Park

September 30, 2025

Photo from Southern Indiana Business Report's website

ODON, Ind. — On September 29, 2025, the Indiana Uplands Microelectronics (ME) Training Hub officially opened at WestGate@Crane Technology Park, ushering in a new era of workforce development for the region’s microelectronics and defense sectors.

Developed by Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) in partnership with Reliable MicroSystems, the hub features advanced classrooms, cleanrooms, and electronic testing equipment designed to prepare students for careers in microelectronics—a field critical to both national defense and high-tech industry.

“The ME Hub is a cornerstone in ROI’s portfolio of projects,” said Tina Peterson, ROI President and CEO. “It represents a powerful collaboration to ensure students and adults in the Indiana Uplands have exposure and pathways into one of the most critical industries of our time.”

The hub is co-located within Reliable MicroSystems’ engineering environment, giving students hands-on experience alongside professionals engaged in research, design, and prototyping. The launch also introduced MOMENTUM: Indiana Uplands Microelectronics Workforce Development, a new brand for ROI’s workforce initiatives.

A student signing ceremony celebrated the inaugural class of the Indiana Uplands ME Academy, with students from Bloomfield, Loogootee, and Washington High Schools committing to a multi-year program offering dual-enrollment coursework, industry credentials, paid work experiences, and career exploration.

This initiative strengthens the talent pipeline supporting NSWC Crane and the broader defense industrial base, positioning the Indiana Uplands as a national hub for microelectronics innovation.