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Hosted at Maker13 in partnership with One Southern Indiana, the event connected career exploration with workforce opportunities available across the region. Students experienced interactive simulations aboard the Mobile Workshop designed to introduce technical professions and provide information about the education, training and skills that can lead to those careers.

“Hosting the Mobile Workshop during Manufacturing Week puts these careers directly in front of our students,” said Lance Allison, President and CEO of One Southern Indiana. “Southern Indiana has the industry and the momentum, and a strong talent pipeline is what keeps that going. Working with Meta and Be Pro Be Proud connects students with high-paying, in-demand careers while helping local employers develop the skilled workforce they need to compete and grow here.”

The Jeffersonville event is part of Be Pro Be Proud’s 10th Anniversary Mobile Workshop Tour, supported by a $500,000 investment from Meta. The 10-stop tour is bringing the Mobile Workshop to communities across the country throughout the fall.

“This is the first time the Mobile Workshop has come to Indiana, and that is exactly what this anniversary tour is for,” said Andrew Parker, executive director of Be Pro Be Proud. “Ten years in, we are still finding new places to bring this experience. Every new community we reach means more young people getting a hands-on look at careers they can build close to home.”

Since 2023, Meta and Be Pro Be Proud have worked together to introduce nearly 70,000 students to technical career opportunities. The partnership includes the use of Meta Quest virtual reality technology aboard Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshops and support for statewide Be Pro Be Proud initiatives in Tennessee, New Mexico and Texas.

Meta has invested more than $10.8 billion across its two Indiana data centers in Jeffersonville and Lebanon, which together will support more than 5,000 skilled trade workers at peak construction and approximately 400 operational jobs once both projects are completed.

“Our partnership with One Southern Indiana goes back to before we broke ground on the Jeffersonville Data Center,” said Kenton Wooden, community engagement manager at Meta. “The welders and electricians who build the infrastructure behind America’s AI future are the same professionals Southern Indiana’s manufacturers depend on. Whatever path these students choose, we’re glad they get to explore the Mobile Workshop firsthand.”

The Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop features immersive simulations that allow students to explore professions including welding, construction, advanced manufacturing, commercial driving and other high-demand technical careers. Experiences are tailored to regional workforce needs and connect students with information about local education, training and career pathways.

About Be Pro Be Proud

Be Pro Be Proud, Inc. is a nonprofit workforce development initiative originated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (AIA) that successfully connects students around the country to high-tech, high-paying technical careers. Through partnerships with state agencies, local industry and higher education entities, Be Pro Be Proud is effectively working to replenish the professional workforce that has been experiencing a drastic decline. The initiative was launched in Arkansas in 2016 and has since licensed efforts in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

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