Northwest Indiana Awarded Workforce Funding

The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board and the Center of Workforce Innovations have been awarded funding from the Department of Labor’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) towards Workforce Investment Act Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker activities, entitled Workforce Acceleration Grants (WAG).

WAG provides eligible students educational funding if they are applying for or attending a two-year program at a specified Indiana college or university and have already applied for financial aid. These workforce education funds will support occupations in demand in the region for learners pursuing two-year degrees with the ultimate goal being employment.

The WAGs will only be used for tuition, fees, and books at schools or training institutions that provide accredited Associates Degrees or other post-secondary certificates that the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana recognizes, and which lead to occupations in the high-demand or occupations in demand industries.

“These funds will enable learners to afford their workforce education without accruing high levels of debt,” said Linda Woloshansky, President & CEO of the Center of Workforce Innovations and Regional Operator for the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board. “Being able to add to the funding pool for education in our region’s high-demand industries is vital for our workforce and economic health,” added Woloshansky.

The grant cycle for the WAGs runs through June 30, 2010. For further information on the WAGs or eligibility, visit a WorkOne near you. For a complete listing of WorkOne offices visit www.gotoworkonenw.com or call 1-877-607-0680.

The Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI) is a non-profit corporation that serves as a catalyst for community and business investment in workforce, education, and economic development. Working to build and enhance collective capacity to help improve education, skill levels, and job opportunities among the local workforce, CWI also serves as the Regional Operator for the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board and the state’s workforce system in Jasper, Lake, La Porte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, and Starke counties.