Conexus Indiana

A look inside Midwest Wire Group! 🇺🇸

Last week, we welcomed the Conexus Indiana team for a visit to see what we’ve been working on and where we’re headed next.

From the bale ties that helped build our business to our growing wire forming and automation capabilities, we’re proud of the progress our team is making right here in Crawfordsville.

Thank you to Josh, Kelsey and Michael for spending time with us, sharing resources and supporting Indiana manufacturers. We’re excited about what’s ahead and grateful to have people who take an interest in our growth!

📸 Photos courtesy of Conexus Indiana.

We are excited to open the nomination window for the Rising 30 Class of 2027!

Every year, 30 honorees under the age of 30 are selected and celebrated in the Rising 30 program, drawing attention to those with collaboration, energy and creativity to make a significant impact on the Indiana advanced manufacturing and logistics industries.

To help you put together the best application possible, our team put together the Rising 30 Nomination Primer, a document to help walk you through the nomination process and provide you with the important information for each applicant.

Check out the primer: https://ow.ly/6yFB50ZVSlt

Brett Walker's path to Allison Transmission started in garages with his grandfathers, both career mechanics. Today, he honors that hands-on heritage through work he's proud of: one of his key contributions was building a $100,000 electromagnetic testing lab that has saved between $20,000 and $40,000 on various product design iterations. He's now pursuing a master's from Michigan State while continuing to make his mark.

Meet Brett and the rest of the 2026 Rising 30 class: https://ow.ly/xJLn50ZVyHX

“By increasing manufacturing capacity in West Lafayette and bringing more of the production process under one roof, we’re improving efficiency, creating new career opportunities and positioning SEL to meet growing demand for our products and solutions.” - Leith Sorenson, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

SEL Community—Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has announced plans to expand its manufacturing operations at its West Lafayette location. The $25 million project will allow it to complete more manufacturing processes at the facility and is expected to create about 130 jobs.

Learn more via Inside INdiana Business:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories investing $25M in West Lafayette expansion - Inside INdiana Business The Pullman, Washington-based company said the expansion will allow it to complete more manufacturing processes at the location inside Purdue's Discovery Park District and create about 130 jobs.

Our sister initiative, Ascend Indiana, announced a microgrant opportunity to help Indiana schools launch student-led businesses (SLBs), to expand access to high-quality, hands-on work-based learning experiences for students across the state, in Indiana's advanced industries.

Learn more:

Ascend Indiana Launches Microgrant Program To Help High Schools Launch Student-Led Businesses - Times-Union INDIANAPOLIS – Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), announced a new microgrant opportunity to help Indiana schools launch student-led businesses (SLBs), expanding access to high-quality, hands-on work-based learning (W...

Welcome to the Conexus Indiana Advanced Industries Council, Dura Products! Located in Arcadia, Dura Products is an Indiana-based manufacturer of state-of-the-art ag chemical equipment, including metering, pumping, and dispensing systems for agriculture, DEF, and drone applications.

Meet Dura Products and our other partners: https://ow.ly/G2TW50ZUUhW

Valentina Tamayo came to the U.S. from Colombia as an au pair. She so impressed her host family that she earned a job at Thrive Orthopedics, and so impressed her bosses there that, a little over a year later, she went from taping boxes to leading a team managing inventory, demand and the full order-to-delivery process.

Meet Valentina and the rest of the 2026 Rising 30 class: https://ow.ly/Cvog50ZUBnB

Next month, we’re bringing our Industry Exchange series to Elkhart County for a conversation on Building Your Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics Workforce. This session will feature collaboration opportunities to help give a clearer picture of how your hiring challenges and strategies compare to your peers.

We’ll also discuss the AML ITA and hear from local workforce professionals through two panel discussions, bringing real-world perspectives and practical insights into the conversation.

Secure your spot today: https://ow.ly/Zwzm50ZUsvG

“This microgrant program will help more schools take that first step and create opportunities for students to connect what they are learning in the classroom to Indiana’s workforce and the needs of their communities.” - Brad Rhorer, President and CEO, Ascend Indiana

Our sister organization, Ascend Indiana, has announced the new Student-Led Business Microgrant program, where it will award up to eight schools $5,000 each, providing up to $40,000 in total funding to support the development and launch of new SLBs in one of Indiana's advanced industries, including advanced manufacturing and logistics.

Ascend Indiana Launches Microgrant Program to Help High Schools Launch Student-Led Businesses - Ascend Indiana Ascend Indiana launched a new microgrant program awarding up to eight Indiana high schools $5,000 each to help launch student-led businesses and expand hands-on work-based learning opportunities.

"This partnership gives us the opportunity to keep building on that foundation, create more opportunities for our people, and take the company to the next level while staying true to the values and relationships that got us here.” - Kyle Elkins, Partner, MAK Steel

Three steel companies in Indiana, MAK Steel, Advantage Steel and Trinity Steel, have received investment from Crosstown Capital Partners to expand fabrication capacity, which will also create 75 total jobs collectively.

Crosstown Capital invests in 3 Indiana steel companies, plans for 75 new jobs - Inside INdiana Business Columbus-based Crosstown Capital Partners' investment in three Indiana steel companies will help fund a new fabrication facility and expanded operations.