Ivy Tech and Eli Lilly launch biopharmaceutical manufacturing scholarship program

Ivy Tech Community College and Eli Lilly have partnered to create a new scholarship program to increase awareness of and access to careers in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The “Lilly Scholars @ Ivy Tech” program will build on Ivy Tech’s existing biopharmaceutical manufacturing certification program.

Eli Lilly will fund the $15 million project for the next five years. The goal is to make careers in the industry more accessible through partnerships with Marion County high schools and the design of biopharmaceutical manufacturing “boot camps.”

Sue Smith with Ivy Tech says the program is meant to grow the state’s workforce and economy by getting more Hoosiers connected to high-wage, high demand careers.

“Biopharmaceutical manufacturing is a great career,” Smith said. “We just really want to give young people and, you know, current folks that are currently employed or maybe underemployed, the opportunity to get these wonderful jobs.”

The program was announced Monday as state and local leaders broke ground on a new Eli Lilly manufacturing facility in Boone County. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech, spoke at the event.

“This investment will create opportunities for first generation and socioeconomically challenged students -- high school and adults -- from Central Indiana to pursue high wage high demand careers in quality assurance and pharmaceutical manufacturing to sectors that power Indiana's economic growth, vitality and prosperity,” Ellspermann said.

Lilly Scholars @ Ivy Tech is targeted towards first generation or low-income students. Smith says she expects the first summer boot camp to start this July.

Contact WFYI economic equity reporter Sydney Dauphinais at sdauphinais@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @syddauphinais.