The Elston Opportunity Hub
The Elston Opportunity Hub is a new front door to opportunity in Michigan City, bringing together workforce training, education, and community services—all in one place—to help individuals, families, and employers thrive.
The Elston Opportunity Hub in Michigan City opens in Summer 2026.
NWI Work Opportunity Collaboratives provide scale, accessibility, and social and physical infrastructure where it is needed most. Opportunity Collaboratives are designed in the center of our most economically distressed communities. Direct access and scaling to the need serves as an economic boost not only to our most vulnerable households but also to our region’s employers, challenged to fill their most critical job openings.
About NWI Works Opportunity Hubs
A place for opportunity
The NWI Works Opportunity Hub at Elston is a transformational redevelopment of the historic Elston campus into a 300,000+ square foot, multi-service center focused on workforce development, education, and economic opportunity.
Designed as a single “front door” to opportunity, the Hub connects residents to career pathways, employers to talent, and partners to a shared mission of community revitalization.
Here, you’ll find:
Hand-on training labs and classrooms
Career coaching and support services
Access to employers and hiring events
A welcoming environment focused on your future
Interested in being an instructor?
NWI Works is now accepting resumes for Employability Skills Instructors to support our Fast Track to Top Jobs program—an innovative workforce initiative designed to prepare adults for success in high-demand careers across multiple industries.
What you’ll find at the hub
Career coaching and navigation
Job readiness and skills training
Apprenticeships and employer connections
Fast Track to Top Jobs programs
Workforce + Career Services
Hands-on learning aligned with real jobs in:
Manufacturing & Advanced Technology
Healthcare
Logistics & CDL
Construction & Trades
Information Technology
Culinary & Hospitality
Training Labs & Career Pathways
A state-of-the-art commercial kitchen serving as a training, production, and community nutrition hub:
Culinary workforce training and certifications
Meal production and food distribution
Nutrition education and community programming
Entrepreneur incubation for food businesses
Culinary & Food Innovation
Live performances, concerts, and community events
Youth arts and educational programming
Event space for conferences and gatherings
Arts, Culture & Events
Youth programming (Boys & Girls Club, YMCA)
Health and wellness services
Food access and nutrition support
Community events and engagement
Family & Community Services
A model for the future
The Elston Opportunity Hub represents a new model for workforce development:
Integrated services in one location
Strong employer alignment
Hands-on, accelerated training
Wraparound supports for success
Scalable and replicable across regions
It is designed to meet the future of workforce development—data-driven, employer-informed, and focused on outcomes.
Strategically located in Michigan City with access to the South Shore Line, the Hub connects residents to regional job centers, including Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s key employment corridors.
Over the next several years, the Hub will:
Expand training capacity across sectors
Grow employer partnerships and hiring pipelines
Support entrepreneurship and innovation
Serve as a regional model for workforce + community integration
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Ready to Build Your Future?
Don’t wait—your next opportunity starts here.