EmployIndy, Marion County’s local workforce investment board and manager of the WorkOne network in Marion County, and members of the City-County Council, have used the past year to provide job training and work opportunities to residents; and also free employment opportunities for companies that offer competitive wages through the PowerTrain Indy program.
Chelsea Meldrum, director of development for EmployIndy said the program has served 200 residents, and says they’re getting the word out that job-training opportunities are still available.
“Starting out with a bang is an understatement. We currently have lots of folks in the pipeline for getting their screenings, identifying what kind of training they need or coming out of training. But we still have room for more people to sign up,” said Meldrum.
PowerTrain Indy serves people who live in and around downtown Indianapolis and the immediate neighborhoods that surround it such as Massachusetts Ave, 16 Tech, Haughville, Douglas Park, Riverside Park, Garfield Park, Martindale-Brightwood, Holy Cross and United Northwest Area.
“I have two neighborhoods listed in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s targeted areas. We also have challenges with unemployment and education, so these are difficult neighborhoods,” said Councilor Vop Osili, who represents District 15. “With so many barriers, this program is good for the area.”
PowerTrain Indy also covers Councilor Joe Simpson’s 9th district.
In addition to living in the specified areas, qualifications include being 18 years of age or older; and living in a household that is 75 percent or less than the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area median household income, or approximately $32,000 annually.
Training and job opportunities are focused in healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, logistics and life sciences among others.
Those who are accepted into the program will receive training prior to starting a job if necessary. Program candidates are paid during training and must go through an employer for full-time placement. Once hired, workers will also receive on-the-job training.
Ron Harrison, director of Operations for WorkOne explained that employment is not guaranteed, however program participants increase their marketability if properly credentialed.
“Councilor Simpson and I are strong about something: nothing will be given to you. You have to work. The door is open and we’ll do what we can to help you,” added Osili. “But if you don’t have the tenacity to stick with it, that’s on you.”
For serious candidates who don’t qualify for PowerTrain Indy, Harrison said WorkOne will connect people to services.
PowerTrain Indy has already helped people like Gregory Hunt who was once homeless and jobless. He learned about PowerTrain Indy as a resident of the Horizon House shelter.
Shortly thereafter, Hunt was enrolled in the program and received two weeks of training to become certified through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. During that time, he also became certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; forklift operation; logistics; and materials management.
Hunt said after completing a three-week PowerTrain Indy program, he received a job offer within three days.
“I do have a past and it could have been very easy to fall back into my old ways, but you have to be determined to want something out of life. This is a stepping-stone. I can’t imagine where I’d be. There’s some good people out there,” said a tearful Hunt.
Providing quality workers for employers is a major part of PowerTrain Indy’s goals.
“We hear this a lot from employers – folks are missing basic skills. They’re missing soft skills such as getting to work on time or how to interact with fellow employees. A lot of times its G.E.D. related. Some employers need specific skills like how to work a certain type of machine,” said Harrison. “We’re trying to eliminate that gap between employer need and the employee skills, or lack thereof.”
PowerTrain Indy has also helped employers like Gary Hobbs, president of BWI LLC, an electrical contracting company.
“We were waiting for the perfect candidate yet this was the extra incentive we needed to go ahead and take a risk and hire folks who were not completely trained but folks we really do need,” said Hobbs. “It’s worked out extremely well. They have the basics in place and are ready to learn the BWI way.”
To date, Hobbs has hired 15 employees through the PowerTrain Indy program. They’ve also received on-the-job training such as how to wire electrical outlets, install ceiling fans and how to run cabling the proper way.
EmployIndy’s Meldrum said that in addition to needing more residents seriously ready to work, the program is in need of businesses that will take advantage of prepared employees like BWI LLC. Businesses that enroll in PowerTrain Indy will have access to a business solutions representative who will help them design customized training and provide hiring expertise if needed. They also have access to capital for micro loans.
Businesses eligible for training grants must operate, or intend to operate, within a 2-mile offset of the perimeter of the consolidated redevelopment zone, have job openings and commit to fill those openings.
“Employers who are interested, this is the best program I’ve ever seen. It’s the perfect match between that private, public partnership. It’s allowed us to be competitive with the big companies and yet bring on some good, talented people who are hungry for work and want to be successful,” said Hobbs.
A total of $1.5 million has been allocated for the PowerTrain Indy program. The financing comes from city revenue generated from the establishment of an expanded tax increment financing (TIF) district, meaning PowerTrain’s downtown and surrounding areas received city funds specifically used to spur job and business growth.
PowerTrain Indy officially ends Dec. 31, 2015 or until financial resources are exhausted, whichever comes first. Meldrum said they are working to obtain funds to sustain the program long term and expand it to other area in the city.
For more information, call the WorkOne North office at (317) 228-0682 or visit workoneindy.org/OneFlow/PowerTrainIndy.aspx; or call EmployIndy at (317) 639-4441 or visit employindy.org.
