NEW CARLISLE — Amazon on June 3 celebrated the first graduating class of its Work Based Learning Program (WBLP) at the company’s newly opened Campus Administration Building (CAB) inside its data center campus in New Carlisle. Fifty-eight local residents — recruited from area high schools, colleges, and the surrounding community with no prior tech background — completed training in machine learning and data center operations, marking a milestone in Amazon’s continued investment in workforce development in Northern Indiana.

The graduation ceremony, attended by more than 100 community partners and employees, coincided with the ribbon-cutting of the CAB — a state-of-the-art training center and workforce development hub purpose-built to develop the next generation of data center professionals from the local community. VP of Global DC Operations Sergio Loureiro delivered remarks at the ceremony, alongside SBN Cluster Leader Josh Sallabedra, local elected officials, and community leaders.

Amazon’s $11 billion data center campus in New Carlisle — one of the largest private-sector investments in Indiana history — has been the subject of significant community conversation since its announcement in 2024. The June 3 event marked the first time the public was invited inside the facility, and the story they found wasn’t about servers — it was about people. The campus now employs nearly 1,000 people, already meeting Amazon’s original commitment to the community, and continues to hire as operations grow.

A workforce pipeline Built from Day One

Amazon’s investment in Northern Indiana’s workforce began well before the first graduate walked across the stage. In 2021, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and Ivy Tech Community College announced a collaboration with AWS to train and certify 5,000 individuals in cloud computing skills — laying the groundwork for the talent pipeline that feeds the SBN campus today.

That partnership has since expanded to include:

Data Center Career Pathways — Ivy Tech students are trained in fiber optic splicing, server rack operations, and data center fundamentals to prepare them for roles at the SBN campus

Fusion Splicing Training — Intensive, hands-on training in fiber optic cable connection — a critical skill for data center operations

AWS Pathways Program — A structured training track for Amazon team members to grow their skills to the next level through Ivy Tech coursework

Josh Sallabedra, SBN cluster leader, noted that each campus has collaborated with the local data center community from Day One — and the WBLP graduation represents the culmination of years of partnership, not a single event.

The WBLP is part of Amazon’s Future Ready 2030 initiative — a $2.5 billion commitment to prepare 50 million people worldwide for the future of work through skills training. As the company integrates advanced technology across its operations, Amazon is investing in programs that bring people along — transforming jobs by creating more dynamic roles, prioritizing employee development, and building practical pathways for individuals and communities to thrive in the shifting labor market. Globally, Amazon has upskilled more than 700,000 employees through workforce development programs, and its free AWS cloud-skills training has reached more than 31 million learners worldwide.

Think big space — New Prairie High School

In May, Amazon opened its first Think Big Space in Indiana at New Prairie High School in New Carlisle — in partnership with New Prairie United Schools Corporation. The STEM education lab gives approximately 3,000 students access to hands-on technology and resources designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.