Connecting Education Workforce Opportunity Across Hendricks County
OUR STORY
For more than 25 years, Hendricks College Network (HCN) has been bringing people, organizations, and opportunities together to strengthen Hendricks County.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, HCN serves as the county’s convener and connector, aligning education, workforce development, business, government, and community organizations around one shared goal: creating opportunities that help residents succeed and employers thrive.
Whether introducing a student to future career possibilities, connecting adults with workforce training, supporting local employers, or helping community partners work toward common solutions, HCN exists to connect people with opportunity.
Our Mission
Hendricks College Network serves as the county’s convener and connector, aligning education and training with workforce demand, supporting business growth, and addressing barriers to career access.
Our Vision
HCN is the preeminent leader connecting Hendricks County education and training opportunities to statewide success.
How We Serve Hendricks County
Strong communities are built through strong partnerships.
HCN works behind the scenes and alongside our many partners to connect education, business, government, and nonprofit organizations in ways that strengthen the entire workforce pipeline.
Our work focuses on four key areas.
Career Exploration
Helping students and adults discover careers, explore educational pathways, and connect with future opportunities.
Examples include:
- Future Pathways College & Career Fair
- Career Fair at the
- Hendricks County 4-H Fair
- Career Pathways resources
- Career exploration initiatives
Education & Training
Connecting residents with colleges, certifications, workforce training, scholarships, and lifelong learning opportunities.
Examples include:
- Postsecondary education connections
- Workforce training resources
- Scholarship Resource Hub
- English Language Access initiatives
Workforce Development
Supporting employers by strengthening the talent pipeline and connecting businesses with education and workforce partners.
Examples include:
- Industry-specific partnerships
- Workforce training inventory
- Employer engagement
- Work-Based Learning intermediary
- Workforce development initiatives
Community Leadership
Convening organizations around shared challenges and building collaborative solutions that strengthen Hendricks County.
Examples include:
- Hendricks County Workforce Coalition
- Workforce barrier solutions
- Regional collaboration
- MADE@Plainfield collaborative oversight
- Partnership with Hendricks County Economic Development
Connecting the dots
HCN doesn’t operate a college, training center, or economic development office.
Instead, we connect them all.
By bringing together schools, employers, colleges, nonprofits, local government, and workforce partners, we help create solutions that no single organization could accomplish alone.
Every day, our work helps:
- Industry-specific partnerships
- Workforce training inventory
- Employer engagement
- Work-Based Learning intermediary
- Workforce development initiatives
Our impact isn’t measured by one program or one event. It’s measured by the partnerships we build and the opportunities those partnerships create for our community.
Where We Began
Hendricks College Network traces its roots to 1998, when the Hendricks County Commissioners established the Post-Secondary Education Task Force as part of the county’s comprehensive planning efforts.
The task force recognized a growing need to expand access to higher education for Hendricks County residents. Although early grant applications were unsuccessful, community leaders remained committed to the vision. Their persistence led to a startup grant from Purdue University that helped launch the organization and hire its first executive director.
Over the years, HCN has grown alongside the needs of Hendricks County.
What began as an effort to increase access to higher education has evolved into a countywide organization connecting education, workforce development, economic development, and community partnerships. While our programs have expanded, our purpose has remained the same:
Creating opportunities that improve lives through education, workforce development, and collaboration.
Looking Ahead
As Hendricks County continues to grow, so do the opportunities and challenges facing our workforce.
HCN will continue expanding partnerships, strengthening career pathways, supporting employers, and connecting residents with the education and training needed for tomorrow’s jobs.
Because when education, business, government, and community organizations work together, Hendricks County grows stronger.