State to Award More ‘Skill UP’ Work Force Grants

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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Department of Workforce Development is looking to award its second round of Skill UP Indiana! grants. The $11 million aims to boost education and industry-led regional partnerships to develop the state’s work force pipeline.
DWD Commissioner Steven Braun says the program "is about providing access to the right training, at the right time, and taught in the right way." He says lining up "future employer demand with current and future work force supply is critical for filling the one million-plus Indiana jobs projected to become available over the next decade."
The state says Skill UP will help prepare workers for the more than one-third of those jobs that the department says do not exist today. The program aims to benefit business and industry as well as students, job seekers and policy makers.
The department launched the program last year, targeting industry-led partnerships, adult education programs, local government units, K-12 and post-secondary education organizations, CTE centers, work force training providers and economic development partners.The grants require a private match of 25 percent.
The DWD says recipients from the first grant cycle are moving forward with their plans. They include plans for hundreds of advanced manufacturing, logistics and information technology internships in the Indianapolis area, adult worker training in northwest Indiana and work and learn opportunities in manufacturing for high school students in southeast Indiana.