In today’s rapidly evolving economy, the success of a region depends on how well its systems—workforce development, education, economic growth, and community services—work together. At EmployIndy, this isn’t just a vision; it’s a strategy in action.
As Indianapolis’ workforce development board, EmployIndy plays a pivotal role in aligning resources and partners to ensure job seekers receive the right support at the right time, and employers access the talent they need without unnecessary delays or duplication. Through cross-sector collaboration, policy advocacy, and innovative programming, EmployIndy builds an integrated system that maximizes resources and streamlines service delivery.
Here’s how we’re making it happen:
Bridging Classrooms and Careers
EmployIndy is transforming how young people prepare for the workforce by embedding career-connected learning into the K–12 experience. Through initiatives like Talent Bound and the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), students gain hands-on experience in high-demand industries such as healthcare, business operations, and advanced manufacturing.
Over 599 employers and 142 youth apprentices from 12 high schools are engaged in career-connected learning within these programs.
IPS student participation in work-based learning has increased by 600%.
As part of the Accelerate ED initiative, EmployIndy helped launch a pathway blueprint for Cybersecurity that allows students to earn dual credits and industry-recognized certifications starting in 9th grade—setting them on a fast track to high-wage careers.
Removing Barriers to Success
EmployIndy understands that career readiness goes beyond skills—it’s also about support. That’s why we’ve built a robust coaching and training infrastructure. Last year, 10,923 clients and participants enrolled in EmployIndy programs and initiatives to receive career coaching, training, and wraparound services.
Indy Achieves, in partnership with IU Indianapolis, removes financial barriers to postsecondary education by promoting access to financial aid, offering Promise Scholarships and Completion Grants, and providing wraparound support services for Marion County students.
In 2024 alone, it supported 2,224 scholars, generating an estimated $11.8 million in economic benefit.
The YES Indy network, in partnership with community-based organizations (CBO) across the city, offers job readiness training in tandem with barrier-busting supports like childcare and transportation.
Last year, YES Indy helped participants earn 275 certifications in high-demand fields.
Matching People to Opportunity
EmployIndy’s Talent Connection initiatives, including WorkOne Indy, streamline how job seekers and employers connect—delivering efficient, targeted engagement. Through strategic partnerships, community outreach, and employer-driven programming, these efforts help reduce barriers to employment and accelerate hiring timelines.
3,309 individuals were placed in good or promising jobs in 2024.
Last year, weekly hiring events at WorkOne Indy attracted 14,559 job seekers and connected them with 259 unique employers.
By maximizing efficiency in the hiring process, EmployIndy’s Talent Connection efforts not only offer real-time access to opportunities across a wide range of industries but also help businesses fill roles more quickly with qualified candidates—creating a more agile and responsive labor market in Marion County.
We’ve collaborated with IU Indianapolis and IPS to create a Seamless Admission process for students with a 3.0 GPA—eliminating application fees and paperwork.
We’ve influenced key legislation, including:
HB 1243: A new diploma focused on career readiness.
SB 8: Flexible postsecondary pathways.
HB 1001: Streamlined career scholarship and coaching grants.
We’ve developed a Career Advising Framework now used statewide to guide career coaching in schools.
To date, 128 employers have been certified for paying at least $18/hour and offering health benefits.
Last year, this resulted in $5.81 million in increased wages, improving retention and economic mobility for workers.
By raising wages and expanding benefits, the Good Wages Initiative fosters a resilient, inclusive labor market that benefits workers, employers, and the broader community.
The Power of Partnership: A Model for Modern Workforce Development
This integrated approach reflects EmployIndy’s commitment to building a coordinated network that reduces duplication, accelerates access to opportunity, and delivers measurable outcomes for individuals and employers alike.
Interested in getting involved? Reach out to [email protected] to get connected.
On Thursday June 12, 2025, over 70 local employers, workforce leaders, and education partners gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium for Untapped, a panel and networking event designed to help local employers tackle their workforce challenges through proven work-based learning (WBL) strategies and apprenticeship-tailored solutions. Powered by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana, the event featured panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to highlight real-world strategies tailored to the Indy region, empowering employers to confidently integrate work-based learning into their talent pipelines—and unlock the full potential of the next generation workforce.
“We’re thrilled to help bring together our city’s workforce leaders in effort to network, learn and collaborate as we work to grow the work-based learning movement in our region,” says Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy’s President + CEO. “We believe in the power of WBL and apprenticeships to not only help employers develop the next generation of talent but also shift their current workplace culture in new and valuable ways.”
Talent experts from EmployIndy, Ascend Indiana, Indy Chamber, Aracamed, and the Indianapolis Airport Authority provided insights and guidance on topics like unlocking the power of WBL, launching and scaling WBL programs, preparing participants for success, integrating inclusivity, and more.
As students face increasing challenges in preparing for meaningful and sustainable careers, and employers express concern about the lack of skilled and diverse workers who can meet their evolving demands, EmployIndy is working to connect youth with real-world work experiences that align with emerging economic trends to fill these gaps. Last year, 48,220 WBL and career-connected learning activities were facilitated or supported by EmployIndy, including 142 Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) youth apprentices at 12 Marion County high schools. Additionally, 599 employers delivered career exploration, engagement, and experience activities to Marion County K–12 and postsecondary students.
What We Heard from Employers
Throughout the event, several key themes emerged from our conversations with employers:
Start small, learn, try, learn again.
Hope is not a strategy. To stand out and fill talent gaps, you have to take initiative.
Intermediary partners can help growth, but internal champions and flexibility will make it stick.
WBL transforms teams from task managers into talent mentors.
Success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with the right partners.
What’s Next
This conversation was just the beginning. Coming soon, we’ll host a series of small roundtable events focused on key topics such as legal considerations, student preparation, and managing WBL programs as they grow.
And the momentum is strong—100% of employers who responded to our follow-up survey said they would recommend Untapped to others. We’re excited to continue the conversation and build on this energy at our next event. Please be on the lookout for future communications from EmployIndy about our next event.
To get connected to WBL resources and learn how this talent strategy can take your organization to the next level, reach out to [email protected].
At just 16 years old, Zytabreyious “Zy” Marshall, a student at Franklin Central High School, became the youngest person in Indiana history to earn his INDOT Certified Technician Program (CTP) certification—an achievement that set him apart in the construction industry before he even graduated high school.
His journey started in Spring 2024 at a career fair hosted at Franklin Central High School and facilitated by EmployIndy’s Talent Bound program, a program that connects students with work-based learning experiences and industry professionals. It was there that Zy met Jason Mann, Business Development Manager at Howard Companies. That single conversation led to an opportunity that would reshape Zy’s future.
“I almost walked right past their booth,” Zy admitted. “But I stopped, introduced myself, and told them I wanted to work in road construction. That moment changed everything.”
Seeing Zy’s interest and drive, Howard Companies brought him on as an intern, allowing him to gain hands-on experience and begin developing industry-recognized skills while still in high school.
From Student to Skilled Technician
Unlike a traditional high school job, Zy’s internship placed him in a materials testing lab, where he quickly learned the technical skills behind asphalt testing and quality control—a critical part of infrastructure development.
“It’s not easy work,” said Mann. “There’s a lot of technical knowledge involved, and it takes time to master. But Zy caught on quickly. When he went out to INDOT’s headquarters in Greenfield for testing, he passed everything on his first try. That’s rare, even for experienced professionals.”
Beyond technical skills, Zy’s internship gave him valuable experience in time management, problem-solving, and working in a professional environment—skills that will benefit him no matter where his career takes him. The experience also gave him clarity about his future. He hopes to return to Howard Companies in the immediate future to gain more experience and certifications with a goal of eventually starting his own business building residential homes.
“If you have a career path and an internship is available, take it,” Zy advises his fellow students. “It gives you experience, helps you decide if it’s right for you, and puts you ahead of the game.”
Howard Companies fully funded Zy’s training and certifications, covering all the associated costs. In just two to three weeks, he completed a preparation and testing process that typically takes months for seasoned technicians. In addition to earning his INDOT certification, Zy also completed the OSHA 30 certification, a nationally recognized credential in workplace safety. By gaining both certifications before finishing high school, Zy proved he was not only technically skilled but also prepared to meet the safety standards required in the industry.
With his INDOT and OSHA 30 certification in hand, Zy now has a significant competitive advantage, setting him apart from many of his peers. His success demonstrates the power of work-based learning—giving students an early start on their careers while helping them make informed decisions about their future.
For students wondering what to do next, Zy has a simple piece of advice: Start now. Explore internships, apprenticeships, and certification programs—even if you’re not completely sure what career you want. Hands-on experience and industry credentials help you figure out what interests you while also making you more employable.
Work-based Learning as a Benefit to Businesses
Zy’s experience also highlights how work-based learning not only benefits students, but also businesses, creating a win-win opportunity for workforce development. By providing structured work-based learning opportunities like internships, employers can identify promising young talent early, train them in real-world skills, and build a workforce pipeline that supports growth for their organization and industry.
“We don’t just put students to work,” said Mann. “We give them real industry experience that helps them decide if this is the right career for them. We’re investing in young talent, and in return, we’re building a stronger workforce for the future.”
To address the lack of skilled and diverse workers in our region, EmployIndy connects youth with real-world work experiences that align with emerging economic trends. During the 2023-2024 program year, EmployIndy facilitated or supported 48,220 work-based and career-connected learning activities for students in Marion County, with 599 employers engaged in delivering career exploration, engagement, and experience activities during that period.
To learn more about Talent Bound, and how both students and employers can get involved, visit www.talentbound.org.
When Patrick Evans first connected with Edna Martin Christian Center (EMCC) in August of 2024 he had recently been released from prison and had never held a job before. But with the support of EMCC and EmployIndy, Patrick found a path forward—one paved with opportunity, training, and unwavering support.
At EMCC Patrick enrolled in a work readiness program where he honed his interviewing, resume, and professional skills. He showed up every day, committed to learning and building a foundation for his future. After completing the program, he even took an additional customer service class to further prepare for employment.
Having gained important employability skills and looking to take that next step towards a career, EmployIndy’s Talent Bound Manager, Dwayne Donigan, coordinated a fully funded four-week paid internship work exchange (WEX) opportunity for Patrick at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. His training in customer service and the skills developed at EMCC made him a strong candidate, and Gleaners took notice.
“Patrick showed up to the interview right on time, and he came prepared with all his certifications and an updated resume. He was not only professional and polite but also greeted us with a friendly smile,” said Stephanie Dodds, Recruiting and Retentions Specialist for Gleaners. “We were really impressed with him throughout the interview process.”
Fast forward and Patrick has continued his remarkable stride. Now past his 90-day mark, his supervisors at Gleaners have had nothing but praise for his attitude and performance. He has transitioned from a WEX participant to a valued employee in their warehouse shipping department. “Patrick has become a fantastic addition to our team, and we couldn’t be happier with his performance so far, “said Dodds. And after receiving an outstanding achievement award from EMCC, he had the privilege of delivering a heartfelt speech to his peers at EMCC over the holidays.
A community-based organization (CBO) in YES Indy’s network of CBOs, EMCC’s support extended beyond training. When Patrick faced car troubles, they went above and beyond, waking up early to ensure he could get to work on time. Now, they are assisting him in securing a reliable personal vehicle, further solidifying his independence and stability.
Gleaners, inspired by Patrick’s growth and professionalism, is eager to collaborate with EmployIndy again in the future as they seek to recruit and fulfill their talent needs.
In 2024, 10,923 clients and participants enrolled in coaching and training through EmployIndy programs and initiatives, with 275 certifications earned in advanced trainings across the YES Indy network. If you’re an employer looking to build or diversify your talent pipeline, reach out to [email protected] to get connected.
January is National Mentoring Month, celebrating the nature of mentorship in its ability to amplify change and help young people find and follow their passions, one relationship at a time. With a strategic goal to create a positive trajectory for young adults to actively participate in the workforce, EmployIndy uses mentorship to engage Marion County youth and prepare them for a future of success. By meeting students and young people where they are, local business leaders and educators work alongside EmployIndy staff to share experiences and expertise that both foster career development and bring inspiration.
“Hi Ana! Just checking in to see how you’re doing being home from school? I’ll be sending info later on registering for orientation, but I’m here if you need anything. Stay healthy.”
Each school year, hundreds of Indy Achieves students planning to attend IUPUI and Ivy Tech have the opportunity to connect with a mentor, a local community or business leader, and receive support through text messages, like the one above. Born out of the belief that all Indianapolis residents should have the ability to pursue and complete a postsecondary credential or degree program, Indy Achieves staff and mentors diligently offer support to students in everything ranging from filing for FAFSA to registering for classes. This mentorship goes a long way in preventing summer melt, a phenomenon where high school graduates and returning students never make it to classes in the Fall due to overlooked letters and emails, unfinished financial aid forms, failure to turn in important health documents, and more. In 2019, over 70% of Indy Achieves students took advantage of this mentorship offering and received the support they needed to start or continue their postsecondary.
Through Talent Bound, high school students have the opportunity to connect with local employers and business leaders, called Talent Mentors. In a group setting, students gain career knowledge, industry exposure and develop their personal network as they meet virtually and in-person with their Talent Mentor. In 2020, Talent Mentors worked with students at 25 mentoring events, impacting the lives of over 145 students within the IPS school system. These students had the opportunity to learn about competencies, expectations and experiences within the health sciences, business & finance, cosmetology, culinary, computer science, automotive, advanced manufacturing, military, construction and visual arts industries.
Young people outside of the education system also have the opportunity to engage in mentorship through the YES Indy Power Huddle program. Power Huddle works to mentor local youth through a two-week intensive training where individuals learn how they can change their future trajectory that will help them take the next step in furthering their education or career. To provide support and accountability, Power Huddle instructors use mentorship and relationship building to help move participants from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Through adult mentoring within the Power Huddle program, students also develop employability skills, find help with career navigation, receive life coaching, job readiness training, adult education services, and counseling.
If you would like to help prepare Marion County’s youth and young adults for the workforce through mentorship, use the links below to find out how you can become involved with an EmployIndy-led program:
Become a mentor to a local high school student pursuing postsecondary through Ivy Tech or IUPUI:
On Wednesday, July 13, over 400 students from Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) gathered at Arsenal Technical High School to participate in the inaugural LET’S BUILD! event. Formed in partnership between EmployIndy’s Talent Bound, Built to Succeed (Indiana Careers in Construction), and IPS, LET’S BUILD! is a one-day construction camp that brought together all 14 union building trades in Marion County to offer hands-on activities and further career exposure opportunities for rising 9th graders, students who are soon entering high school.
“This event was really special as it was the culmination of the Talent Bound’s work over this last year in the K-8 space with IPS where our focus was exposing students to the building and construction trades,” said Mechelle Polter, Senior Director of Talent Bound. “Today, students got to take the next step and apply what they’ve learned through hands-on activities.” As students engaged with various building trades employers and unions, they had the opportunity to interact with industry models as well as real-world scenarios such as masonry work, climbing a steel beam while harnessed, and more.
Talent Bound is EmployIndy’s vehicle to provide students in Marion County with access to authentic work-based learning experiences, leveraging EmployIndy’s network of engaged businesses to provide activities that increase informed decision making and develop the critical skills needed to succeed in the future of work. During the 2021-22 academic year, over 21,800 work-based learning experiences were provided to Marion County students through Talent Bound.
Work-based learning occurs as a continuum of growth for students and Talent Bound offers activities along three phases of that continuum to build their knowledge: career exposure, career engagement, and career experience. Considered a Talent Challenge, the LET’S BUILD! event took the previous career exposure work to the next level through providing the hands-on experiences.
“The Let’s Build trades fair was an excellent opportunity for our incoming freshmen to gain hands-on experience and inspiration,” said Mel Coryell, Director of Academies and Pathways at IPS. “Our vision is for all IPS graduates to have a plan for and be prepared for a fulfilling future, and engaging with community partners and employers in this way is an essential step towards that vision.” Participating IPS schools included: Arsenal Technical High School, Crispus Attucks High School, George Washington High School, and Shortridge High School.
While students were getting their hands dirty and learning about available careers in the construction industry, local employers were working to build new talent pipelines by putting their industry in front of young adults who are eager to find their path.
“The LET’S BUILD! Construction Camp was a huge success and is an example of the growing relationship between the ICCA and EmployIndy’s Talent Bound program,” said Lynn Busby, Director of Community Outreach at Indiana Careers in Construction. “These events are important in supporting the union construction industry as employers get a chance to create industry exposure and develop new avenues for finding talent.”
The following organizations participated in the event by providing hands-on experiences for the students:
Bricklayers & Allied Craft Workers Local 4 (BAC4)
Harmon Construction Inc.
Harmon Steel Inc.
Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC)
Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 481 (IBEW)
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 34
Ironworkers Local 22
Laborers International Union of North America Local 120 (LiUna)
North Mechanical Contracting & Service
Pepper Construction Company of Indiana LLC
Sisters in the Brotherhood (IKORCC)
Taylor Brother Construction Company Inc.
UA Local 440 Plumbers, Steamfitters, & HVACR Service Technicians
To learn more about available Talent Bound activities that help employers engage with students, visit https://www.talentbound.org.
The Heritage Group is a fourth-generation, family-owned, Indianapolis company that manages a diverse portfolio that specializes in heavy construction, environmental services, and specialty chemicals. They also intentionally invest in the communities where they operate.
“At The Heritage Group, we think in generations, not quarters,” said Lucy Wehlage, The Heritage Group’s Early-In-Career Talent and Program Coordinator. “And young talent…is essential for so many reasons.”
Many EmployIndy programs are aligned with The Heritage Group’s focus on outreach to such talent, and EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team was recently able to coordinate a collaborative meeting with their talent acquisition team and representatives from Indy Achieves and Talent Bound, both EmployIndy programs.
In 2018, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis launched Indy Achieves to respond to Indianapolis’ rapidly-changing labor market with the goal of ensuring that every Marion County resident can pursue and complete a postsecondary degree or credential. The program provides scholarship money to IUPUI and Ivy Tech students and connects them with employers like the Heritage Group for job shadowing opportunities, mentorships, internships, and potential job placement.
The Heritage Group’s Early-In-Career Talent Specialist, Lexie Seward, participated in an Indy Achieves event last spring and has maintained contact with some of the students she met there. “We are committed to mentoring and developing our early-in-career talent. We know the work we put into young professionals will make a difference in the future success of our company.”
Talent Bound is one way that EmployIndy connects Marion County students to a network of engaged businesses for career education and work-based learning opportunities. This is also, of course, a great opportunity for places like The Heritage Group to get in front of, and to spread awareness of their own brand, to high school students who are starting to think about post-graduation plans.
According to Matt Simpson, Associate Director of Talent Bound, “A lot of today’s students are interested in sustainability, so it has been good for some of those students to learn that places like The Heritage Group are trying to make those ideas and interests a reality.”
If your company is looking for innovative ways to engage with young and future talent, but is not yet involved with Talent Bound, reach out to EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team, who would be happy to help get your questions answered and your next steps moving.
When considering the more-influential businesses in Central Indiana, one is unlikely to leave Cummins—designer and manufacturer of engines and other powerful technologies with more than 9,000 locations worldwide—off the list. Cummins’ Technical Education for Communities (TEC) Manager, Rick Hudson, has an interesting take on just what Cummins means to Central Indiana: “We can’t be strong as a company if the communities we’re in aren’t strong.”
The Cummins’ TEC program, which has expanded to 26 locations since its inception in 2012, aims to enrich the skills and strength of young people in communities around the world. The program gathers a coalition from government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to work together to provide technical work-based learning at local schools. The program boasts a graduation rate of more than 80%, and more than 70% of those graduates are quickly placed into technician job placements.
“EmployIndy is the first workforce development board that has ever had a logo on our list of partners from day one,” Hudson said. While Cummins had been familiar with EmployIndy from other involvements, he added that one immediate value that came out of his year-plus correspondence with Styles was the labor market information she provided, which demonstrated the need for more automotive and diesel technicians in Marion County.
It was also essential, according to Hudson, that Arsenal Tech already had a program that emphasizes automotive technical education. “The curriculum was already good,” Hudson said. What TEC will do is supplement what is already in place with buy-in from a number of local employers who donate equipment and additional expertise, while also conveniently serving as possible employment landing spots for students who complete the program.
Cummins does want to hire some of the students that come out of TECs, but they intentionally limit themselves to taking no more than 20% of graduates. This encourages and even necessitates participation from a host of companies that Hudson admits will include—in Indianapolis—one of Cummins’ top competitors.
For any employers who may come from a different industry but still possess an interest in developing a presence in high school and young adult spaces for the purpose of providing career education, work-based learning opportunities, and potentially building long-term employment pipelines, EmployIndy’s Talent Bound does just that. We are always looking for more invested partners, and you can reach out to a member of the Business Partnerships team to start the conversation, get your questions answered, and learn about next steps.
Close to fifty employers from eleven different industries joined EmployIndy for a sunny and warm outdoor career fair at George Washington High School on Friday, May 5.
Roughly 450 students ranging from freshmen to seniors circulated around the track, talking with employers, to learn about immediate and long-term educational and professional opportunities that are available in Central Indiana.
“It’s so rewarding to see all of these professionals get involved and engaged with students as they explore options for the next phase of their lives,” said EmployIndy’s Talent Bound Manager, Tressie Kaufman, who helped coordinate the event.
EmployIndy’s Talent Bound program partners with the local business community to provide career exploration and career-connected learning opportunities for young people that not only increase informed decision making and help them develop critical skills needed to succeed in the future of work, but also provides employers an avenue to be proactive in developing a talent pipeline for their organization.
EmployIndy encourages its business partners to engage with Talent Bound in multiple ways as it provides a wide range of ways to get involved, including: talent talks, talent prep, talent prep, talent mentors, talent tours, talent shadows, talent challenges, talent internships, talent apprenticeships, and talent hires.
Career fairs fall under the “talent day” umbrella, where employers or industry professionals can share information about a specific company, workplace responsibilities, and job skills in effort to allow young people to explore future career pathways.
EmployIndy caught up with two of the businesses participating at the event, Viant and Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBank Indianapolis) to learn more about what brought them to the career fair on a Friday morning.
Viant’s HR Generalist, Alexia Prokopos, said she came “to get the word out” about her company, as there is a concern about filling their talent behind upcoming retirees. Viant manufactures medical devices, and Prokopos emphasized that the company provides partial tuition reimbursement to employees who wish to pursue higher education and that it prioritizes internal development and promotions for their workers.
Meanwhile, FHLBank Indianapolis HR Generalist Emily Thomas described her institution as a “bank for other financial institutions” with about 260 employees in Indianapolis. She emphasized that tellers and financial advisors are not among those job titles. Instead, needs at FHLBank Indianapolis range from technical roles like computer engineering and IT to business and financial roles like business intelligence and risk analysts. Roles like these require bachelor’s degrees, but Thomas was also promoting the company’s internship program and said that she also just enjoyed talking with students and learning more about what they are interested in.
Visit www.talentbound.org/activities to learn more about the range of career-connected learning activities through which your business can begin to develop a new talent pipeline. To get started, reach out to our Business Partnerships at [email protected] or visit our team webpage to learn more.
Two-and-a-half years after the world shut down for Covid-19, and well into what has become known as The Great Resignation, as well as the trend of “quiet quitting,” many employers and even whole industries are scrambling to figure out how to close historical and new talent gaps.
Meanwhile, Chief Personnel Officer at Indianapolis’s Plastic Recycling, Chad Smith, is a military veteran, and it is that background that shaped his conviction that focusing on leadership development and recruiting a diverse workforce can produce the kind of creative thinking that leads to innovation at a company like the one he works for, which he says has “grown from a mom-and-pop business to a much larger operation.
Smith’s words are backed up by Plastic Recycling’s participation from the employer side in an Advanced Manufacturing program that EmployIndy and PACE have partnered together on to help “opportunity youth”—18-to-24-year-olds—get on a career pathway. Participants in the program earn an ADVA credential and are placed in a short-term work experience at a local employer before hopefully beginning full-time work in what can become a career. Six program participants recently visited Plastic Recycling early on in the course for what EmployIndy’s Talent Bound program calls a “talent tour.”
It’s not Talent Bound’s only connection to Plastic Recycling. The company is also a participant in the second cohort of the Modern Apprenticeship Program, which provides high school students from Marion County high schools with the opportunity for a paid, three-year apprenticeship in an industry they’re interested in, and which provides area employers an opportunity to build some of their own diverse talent.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with our three apprentices so far,” Smith said. He also mentioned that Plastic Recycling was so impressed with the candidates for those positions that the process of narrowing them down was quite difficult.
Plastic Recycling’s participation and partnership with EmployIndy is off to an enthusiastic and promising start, but putting on an Advanced Manufacturing program requires more than one employer, and Peerless Pump also hosted the program’s participants for a talent tour.
“The Talent Bound program offers us a unique avenue for providing people with exposure to our company, as well as a different way to connect with talent,” said Peerless Pump’s Human Resources Director, Tammy Poulson.
Peerless Pump produces products that contribute to water cleanliness around the world, and Poulson mentioned that the company is coming up on a big 100th anniversary of doing business, for which there will, of course, be a big celebration for its employees.
Like Plastic Recycling, the fall Advanced Manufacturing program is not Peerless Pump’s only connection to EmployIndy. The Marion County company was recently approved for a Next Level Jobs Employer Training Grant, which will provide a number of current employees and new hires the opportunity to upskill via a Machinist Advancement program. As a workforce development board, EmployIndy is one of the state entities that distributes this funding.
Is your business interested in learning more about one of the opportunities highlighted above or exploring a partnership with EmployIndy? You can reach out to our Business Partnerships team via [email protected] to begin strengthening your talent pipeline today.
