The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has awarded Northeast Indiana Works an $85,000 performance grant to help address critical workforce issues in the region, the state agency announced.
Northeast Indiana Works plans to use the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant to improve adult education operations, where adults who lack a high school diploma can earn an equivalency or certification to help them move to a better job. The grant also will help enhance the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program, which targets high school students, and develop career pathways.
“We extend our appreciation to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for providing this grant and are thrilled to be able to utilize it for talent development in northeast Indiana, particularly in support of creating career pathways in the food and agriculture sector and enhancing JAG programs at 15 high schools,” said Northeast Indiana Works President Edmond O’Neal. “This additional money comes at a critical time for supporting initiatives that will help the region’s employers fill high-wage in-demand jobs now and in the future.”
Northeast Indiana Works oversees workforce initiatives in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties.
DWD provided grant opportunities to all 12 workforce development boards throughout the state. Each proposal had to focus on improving the workforce operations of that region in alignment with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s and DWD’s objectives.
“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.”
In total, $1.5 million in grant money was distributed across the state by DWD to the region’s workforce development boards through this grant opportunity.