Tuesday, August 25, 2020
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Holcomb recently announced that the two programs that make up Next Level Jobs – the Workforce Ready Grant (WRG) and Employer Training Grant (ETG) – will have increased eligibility, program offerings and funding caps through Dec. 30, 2020.
The WRG is designed to remove financial barriers that may prevent Hoosiers from getting the training they need for a job in Indiana’s high-demand fields, while the ETG reimburses employers who train, hire, and retain new or incumbent workers.
$37 million of federal CARES Act money will be used to expand the two grant programs. This will allow at least 10,000 additional Hoosiers to utilize the WRG to gain the skills needed to succeed in high-demand careers and will enable businesses to use the ETG for on-the-job training for 25,000 more Hoosiers.
This expansion will also allow Hoosiers with two- and four-year degrees to receive full tuition reimbursement for short-term WRG-eligible programs through Dec. 30, add nearly 50 new certificates to the list of eligible programs, and increase the funding cap per individual from $5,500 to $10,000 to cover high-quality programs.
Expanding these programs will help Indiana's workforce bounce back from the pandemic and set us up for a brighter future.
To learn more about the WRG, the ETG and Next Level Jobs, visit NextLevelJobs.org.
