Indiana American Water Opens New Training Facility for Water Industry Workforce

Indiana American Water has inaugurated a new training center in Gary, Indiana, designed to bolster workforce readiness and cultivate new professionals within the water sector. The investment, totaling nearly $1.8 million, establishes a hands-on learning environment where employees can practice real-world field scenarios in a controlled setting.

The American Water Training Facility, located at 650 Madison Street, is slated for an official opening this fall. Its design facilitates training across production, field services, construction, and emerging water applications. Skills to be honed include excavation, shoring, utility line locating, traffic control, water main tapping, service line work, confined space procedures, meter installation, and hydrant and water main repair.

The facility is expected to benefit Indiana American Water's workforce statewide, including approximately 100 United Steelworkers employees, by expanding access to practical training that supports skill development, safety initiatives, and certification readiness. The initiative addresses the need for skilled personnel in maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure.

U.S. Representative Frank J. Mrvan visited the site to highlight the importance of workforce development and infrastructure reliability. Barry Suits, president of Indiana American Water, stated that the investment ensures the continued provision of safe and reliable water service to communities across Northwest Indiana by trained and dedicated professionals.