Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – A Lawrence County job skills training program graduated its 16th cohort this month.
Thirteen Lawrence County residents graduated from the Lawrence County Introduction to Local Jobs and Skills (ILJAS) program during a special ceremony at the North Lawrence Career Center.
Through this three-week technical and employability skills training coordinated by the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council’s GROW Lawrence County Adult Education program, students learned the basics of construction, machining and welding.
All participants learned about health & safety careers and received certification in CPR, first aid, and Stop the Bleed. A portion of the participants will continue their education through GROW Lawrence County Adult Education to obtain their High School Equivalency Diplomas (HSE) at no cost.
Eight participants intend to enroll in Indiana’s no-cost NextLevelJobs program to advance in construction, welding and truck driving careers. Three participants’ “next step” will involve interviewing for a job with local companies.
This class brings the total number of graduates for the ILJAS program to 153.
“Next steps are an important part of the ILJAS program. This program is life-changing and has been humbling to witness; however, none of it would have been possible without our sponsor, Smithville Charitable Foundation, and our community of invested stakeholders coming together to make it happen,” said GROW Lawrence County Adult Education Coordinator Cathy Bullington. “We wish to thank our community partners for helping our participants become educated about resources in the community.”
Sarah Kleber-Lowery, a wraparound facilitator from Centerstone, provided information on when and where to seek mental health assistance. Brigid Thomas and Kristen Hutton, IU Health navigators, passed out information on health insurance and how to find a healthcare provider. Township Trustee Millard Jones, Families Forever board member Linda Henderson and Executive Director of StoneBridge Health Campus Megan Alldredge detailed county resources and what qualifications employers seek from applicants.
Nathan Watson, Bedford Public Library director, facilitated a fun and interactive session that included role-playing several on-the-job scenarios to understand the importance of soft skills.
GROW Lawrence County Adult Education is currently accepting students for the next cohort to be held Aug. 12-29. The ideal student is a Lawrence County resident not yet earning a living wage. If you are interested in participating in the program, or an employer interested in getting involved, contact Cathy Bullington at 812-797-3559 or [email protected].