EmployIndy partners with Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) on several of workforce-ready initiatives. This partnership aims to break down barriers and make it possible for all individuals to receive adult basic education and actively enroll in a variety of training programs in order to further their skill set. Five years ago, the state General Assembly unanimously passed a bill to shift adult education to DWD, a move aimed to address both the recession and the looming talent gap that Indiana was facing.
At the Indiana Statehouse today WorkINdiana celebrated 6,000 completions and 5,000 certifications in five years.
Speaking at the event was EmployIndy COO Marie Mackintosh, Associate COO of Adult Education with the Department of Workforce Development Marilyn Pitzulo, and Ivy Tech’s Madison Campus Chancellor Molly Dodge. They provided background on WorkINdiana and the dynamic shift to focusing on industry-recognized credentials so adult education could be seen as a stepping stone toward a career.
“Our vision was to serve students at any time, any place, at any pace.”
Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy Chief Operations Officer
Then they passed the mic to three WorkINdiana participants: Brittany Young, Paul Powell, and Sarah White. These individuals shared their personal journeys and talked about where they are now because of the opportunities gained through WorkINdiana.
- Brittany Young attributes her confidence to the people who helped her along the way. “I developed relationships and gained emotional support all through this program.” As a 2014 WorkINdiana participant from southern Indiana, she completed entry welder training and landed a job at Vehicle Service Group as a Cell Coordinator.
- Paul Powell, a 2018 participant from Indianapolis, talks about quick results. “It is good to know that [WorkOne Indy] showed up when I needed it.” All within 6 months, he obtained his HSE, CDL-A certification, and started work at Eby-Brown as a CDL driver.
- Sarah White spoke to the 3 month Medical Assistant training she completed right out of high school in 2018. “It was a jumpstart to my career.” She is currently at Greene County Hospital where she is employed as a certified Clinical Medical Assistant.
WorkINdiana is just one of many ways that EmployIndy is working to skill-up Marion County’s workforce. Recently, EmployIndy was awarded $125,000 of Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding from DWD in order to remove barriers for employers, service providers, and job seekers alike. This funding will give service providers the tools they need to knowledgeably serve the adult population and provide opportunities for them to skill-up into the jobs within Indianapolis’ high-demand industries, providing a workforce-ready population for the future of Marion County and local employers.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – November 15, 2018 – EmployIndy, the entity overseeing Marion County’s workforce initiatives, recently received a $125,000 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to continue building out a training model and implement an online portal and learning management system for all workforce development professionals.
“These funds will afford EmployIndy the ability to ensure that frontline staff have the tools and training they need to more effectively provide services to residents,” said Angela Carr Klitzsch, president and CEO of EmployIndy. “Our plan includes the development of online and in-person training that align with both nationally recognized and local best practices, fostering a system of improved impact and consistency among all service providers.”
By providing this tool, EmployIndy is having a direct impact on both employers and job seekers. The vision is that service providers will now be equally equipped to assist residents in filling the talent gaps needed for the high-demand industries.
“Marion County employers and residents alike will see the benefits of this grant, as it will help career navigators throughout the workforce development ecosystem better prepare individuals for the in-demand jobs of today’s market,” said Bill Turner, chairman of EmployIndy.
With a mission to improve and grow Indiana’s regional workforce, DWD awarded a total of $1.5 million in grants to Indiana’s twelve Workforce Development Boards.
“We wanted to invest this money in local communities to address each of their unique challenges,” DWD Commissioner Fred Payne said. “It’s an important tool in helping more Hoosiers enter the workforce.”
This WIOA funding is used to tackle current regional workforce issues and utilize preventative methods so that the issues of today will not arise in the future. Each proposal focused on improving the workforce operations of that region in alignment with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s and DWD’s objectives.
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About EmployIndy
EmployIndy guides the local workforce ecosystem and makes strategic investments to remove barriers to quality employment for underserved and underrepresented residents. As the workforce development board for Marion County, guided by 21 business, civic, education, and non-profit community leaders, EmployIndy invests $20 million in public, private and philanthropic funds for both youth and adults annually.
About the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
WIOA was enacted in 2014 and replaced the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. It is designed to strengthen and improve the nation’s public workforce system and help get American citizens, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers.
About Indiana Department of Workforce Development
DWD serves the worker and the employer to ensure workplace success. DWD is committed to innovating and invigorating Indiana’s economic future by providing WorkOne Career Centers, Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market Information, Regional Workforce Strategies and Professional Training. Through these services, DWD is able to develop a premier workforce that enables Indiana employers to flourish and entices businesses from outside our state to relocate to Indiana.
