INDIANA – During Indiana Small Business Month, Governor Mike Braun is recognizing companies working with Power Up Indiana, the state’s program that supports those who invest in upskilling their workforce. Two examples, CorePlacement Personnel Services and Chariot Automotive Group, are helping Hoosiers turn entry-level roles into long-term careers through training, skill development, and wage growth.
Across Indiana, small businesses are doing more than filling open positions; they are building pathways for workers to grow. Through efforts like Power Up Indiana, employers are investing in training that improves retention, supports business growth, and helps Hoosiers move into higher-skilled, higher-wage roles.
“Indiana’s small businesses are showing what happens when employers invest in their people,” Gov. Braun said. “CorePlacement and Chariot Automotive Group are allowing Hoosiers to learn on the job, build new skills, and move into careers that support families and strengthen communities.”
At CorePlacement Personnel Services, that pathway is intentionally structured. Through Power Up Indiana, employees begin in entry-level roles and build toward careers in human resources over one to two years. This model combines hands-on experience, coaching, and credential-based training, allowing participants to earn industry certifications and advance as they meet defined skill milestones. Upon completion, employees may see wage increases of up to 25 percent.
Chariot Automotive Group is taking a similar approach across its dealership floor, service bays, and classrooms in North Central Indiana. The family-owned company, which is pursuing Power Up Indiana strategies, operates four locations and has built its workforce strategy around a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) and the Automotive Technology Education Pathway (ATEP). High school students earn Ivy Tech credit while gaining valuable, hands-on experience, and adult employees advance through structured training, manufacturer certifications, and mentorship tied directly to career growth.
Together, CorePlacement Personnel Services and Chariot Automotive Group reflect a broader shift among Indiana employers: using workforce development as a long-term investment in people, not simply a short-term response to hiring needs. For many Hoosiers, that investment is turning early jobs into stable careers and training into lasting opportunity.
