Indiana’s Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) current students and alumni is gathering February 28 at the Indiana Statehouse to celebrate the program’s 10-year anniversary. Since 2006, JAG has worked to assist Hoosier students with barriers to success to overcome academic challenges on a path towards graduation.

Beginning with just 12 schools, JAG Indiana has grown to the largest affiliate in the national network with more than 110 programs statewide. Since its inception, over 17,000 Hoosiers have participated in JAG, which has a 94 percent graduation rate. JAG students receive career preparation and life skills training while in school and one year of adult mentoring after graduation to ensure their continued success. In fact, JAG students secured more than $21 million in scholarships for the class of 2016. 

“Thanks to the leadership and dedication of outstanding Hoosiers JAG specialists, Indiana continues to be a national leader in reinforcing positive opportunities for students with significant barriers to academic achievement,” said Steven J. Braun, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.  “Indiana’s JAG program set forth with a goal to make a difference in the personal and professional lives of young people and a decade later the program has grown to become the largest affiliate in the national network.”

Visit JAGIndiana.org to learn more about the program and locate an affiliate in your area.

In Jay/Blackford, there are approximately 2,700 workers employed in the manufacturing sector – on a per capita basis, this is 288% higher than the national average. These workers work in 108 different manufacturing-related business occupations. The goal of the Jay-Blackford Manufacturing Alliance (JBMA) is to improve the local manufacturing pathway system ensuring we are teaching the right skills, at the right time, in the right way. This will lead to direct employment in local manufacturing. 

JBMA received grant funding totaling $924,500 to go along with a private match of over $2.3 million. The funding is preparing individuals for careers in manufacturing by developing curriculum around the needed knowledge, skills and abilities identified by regional sector partnerships for employability, technical skills and creating work-and-learn opportunities for youth and adult learners leading to direct employment and improved wages.

"Without the funding from Skill Up, much of this work would not be possible...and will allow us to train emerging and incumbent workers on needed skills to make them work ready right away." ~ Jay-Blackford Manufacturing Alliance...read more

Hoosier Hot 50:
Job of the Month

Each month, this newsletter will highlight one of the Hoosier Hot 50 (HH50) jobs. HH50 is a listing of the fastest growing, high-wage jobs of tomorrow. The list's ranking is based on expected demand and wages in 2022 for the state of Indiana. Although HH50 focuses on the jobs of tomorrow, there are several professions that are hot now.