STATEHOUSE (June 1, 2020) – State Reps. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) and Steve Davisson (R-Salem) encourage Hoosiers whose jobs were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of tuition-free training grants offered through Indiana's Next Level Jobs program.
Established in 2017 through a law enacted by the General Assembly, the program provides Workforce Ready Grants to help Indiana residents who have a high school diploma or equivalent but less than a college degree receive training in high-demand job fields. With more than 500,000 Hoosiers filing for unemployment since March, Engleman said these grants could help those who are laid off or furloughed to build on their skills and get a better paying job.
"Many well-paying jobs require specialized training," Engleman said. "Next Level Jobs has already helped thousands of Hoosiers skill up, and others in our area should look into the opportunity, especially if they want to work in a high-demand industry."
Hoosiers can visit NextLevelJobs.org to apply for training grants, which cover the cost of tuition and fees for working adults to earn a high-value certificate at Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University. Davisson said jobseekers can connect to local training and resources to find jobs in high-demand industries, including advanced manufacturing, building and construction, health and life sciences, IT and business services, and transportation and logistics.
"Now is a great time to participate in this state program," Davisson said. "We know Hoosiers are looking to head back to work or for new jobs as the state continues to reopen. By gaining skills in these high-demand fields, jobseekers could make themselves more marketable."
The Ivy Tech campus in Sellersburg offers students the opportunity to earn certificates in numerous careers. For information, visit IvyTech.edu/Sellersburg.
Students interested in attending Ivy Tech have until June 8 to enroll in summer courses. The summer session will run through Aug. 1. Anyone interested in opportunities through Vincennes University have until July 2 to register for the next round of summer courses. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all courses will be offered online.
Businesses in high-demand industries can apply for Employer Training Grants, which provide $5,000 for each employee who is trained, hired and retained for six months.
Hoosiers can learn more about eligibility requirements and apply for a Workforce Ready Grant or Employer Training Grant at NextLevelJobs.org. Anyone who needs help with the application process can call 317-715-9007 to speak one-on-one with a financial aid expert for free through INvestEd.
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State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) represents House District 73, which includes
Washington County, and portions of Orange, Lawrence, Jackson, Clark and Harrison counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) represents House District 70,
which includes most of Harrison County, along with portions of Clark and Floyd counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
