TALENT FINANCE INITIATIVE NETWORK

Brief Program Summary: The Indiana General Assembly and Governor’s Workforce Cabinet have created multiple education and training funds (exceeding other state investments), for both workers and employers, to meet the statewide postsecondary attainment goal of 60% by 2025; however, these resources are: 1. difficult to navigate due to funding criteria and eligibility requirements; 2. not evaluated concurrently to assess maximum benefit to an individual; and 3. not uniformly prioritized for investment in industries of growth or good and promising jobs. EmployIndy was part of an inaugural cohort with the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation called the Talent Finance Initiative Network. EmployIndy aims to take its learnings from this Network and apply them to help Indiana job-seekers navigate and access state funds that support lifelong learning in a manner that leads them to a good job. Creation of a clearinghouse will support the development of an education and training funds eligibility tool that will evaluate and assess KSAs and interests for navigation to qualified training funds unique to individual workers, providing actionable steps to connect with a career navigator or coach. The tool will also serve as a lead generator for the public workforce system to target job seekers and workers with an interest in training. EmployIndy will also help small employers realize funding resources to navigate their employees to for upskilling. Ultimately, through the Talent Finance Initiative Network, EmployIndy will improve the coordination of available workforce development funding streams and increase accessibility for job seekers and employers alike.