FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – Thousands of job openings are expected in Northeast Indiana.

Officials with the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne say 4,000 job openings in the advanced manufacturing, defense and aerospace sectors are coming to northeast Indiana, thanks to a $20 million Lilly Endowment grant.

A program nicknamed TOPS 2015 or Talent Opportunity Success, will develop education training in science technology, engineering and mathematics.

Officials say the program will also re-train at least 12,000 workers in the next three years and give more than $7 million to local colleges and universities.

Fort Wayne Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne President David Bennett says anyone can apply for a position. The Foundation is working with area “Work One” employment offices.

“People of any age who are willing and able to undergo this training in science and mathematics,” said Bennett. “We have good job opportunities right here in northeast Indiana, and even in today's environment those job opportunities are going to be here.”

Bennett says work on the project will begin right away.

“Some of the projects will begin immediately such as adult worker retraining, others will begin in the fall with the start of the academic year at IPFW and Ivy Tech,” said Bennett.

Area school districts will also see benefits from the grant money.

Fort Wayne Community, Lakeland School Corporation and Whitley County Consolidated Schools will all create "New Tech High Schools" within their corporations, focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies.

The grant is believed to be the largest single private foundation grant ever awarded in northeast Indiana.