Grant to Support Retraining of Dislocated Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $1 million to EmployIndy as part of its Trade and Economic Transition Dislocated Worker grant program. The funding will be used to help "mature dislocated workers" find employment in growth industries.
The two-year grant is part of nearly $8 million awarded to partner organizations involved in Midwest Urban Strategies, a consortium of urban workforce development boards in 13 cities aimed at boosting workforce and economic development. EmployIndy says the funding will be used to coordinate and implement a regional strategy to recruit mature workers who have experienced a dislocation in sectors that have been negatively impacted by technology and automation.
"The loss of legacy jobs has hit Marion County hard in the past two years due to changing technology, automation, trade, outsourcing, and rising business expenses," said Angela Carr Klitzsch, chief executive officer of EmployIndy. "Displaced workers are faced with a traumatic challenge – both personally and professionally – which they must navigate to find their next step."
The effort will focus on engaging and retraining mature workers so they have new skill sets to work with and gain employment in various sectors, such as healthcare, transportation and logistics, information technology, financial services, and advanced manufacturing. EmployIndy says its funding will serve more than 150 dislocated workers throughout Marion County.