On April 7, 2026, Southern Indiana Works proudly accepted a 2026 Meta Data Center Community Action Grant in the amount of $16,200. Brittany Dougherty and Tim Renners represented SIW at the award presentation held at the Howard Steamboat Museum’s Carriage House in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Southern Indiana Works is honored to be among an outstanding group of community organizations selected for this year’s funding. This investment directly supports SIW’s mission to build a stronger, more skilled workforce that advances the region’s economy and quality of life.
The grant will enhance SIW’s innovative programming by upgrading immersive virtual reality career exploration and life skills training tools. These improvements will expand access and opportunity for both young adults and justice impacted individuals.
Through the NextGen Talent program, updated virtual reality technology will allow young adults to explore careers in a hands-on, engaging way, helping them make more informed decisions about their future pathways. At the same time, the SOINACCESS program will incorporate advanced life skills software to better prepare justice impacted individuals for successful reentry into the workforce.
The impact of this investment is far reaching. By strengthening career pathways, supporting second chances, and fostering workforce readiness, this grant helps build a more resilient and competitive regional workforce.
This award reflects a shared commitment to advancing economic growth and improving quality of life across the community.
