SELLERSBURG, Ind. — Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced his Rapid Recovery for a Better Future plan on Friday to help Hoosiers find resources to build skills and land an in-demand job.
Ivy Tech is already contributing to the plan to get Hoosiers back on their feet by offering 10,000 free classes and trainings.
"Over half a million people lost their jobs, they went on unemployment in the state,” said Kofi Darku, executive director of Career Coaching & Employer Connections at Ivy Tech Southern Indiana. "We wanted to have something that they could access quickly to help them get back into the workforce."
Career Coaching and Employer Connections is the department now overseeing the school's 10,000 free class initiative.
"The classes are free,” said Darku, “all you have to do is just go online and register."
The initiative opened on June 1. All courses will be administered online. The classes and trainings are first come first serve to any Indiana resident, and focus on three main sectors: advanced manufacturing, information technology and business.
"We know that there are many people who have been working in these various sectors that maybe they're looking for a certification that will get them to that next level job. This is the opportunity that can help you do that,” said Darku.
He added that even though a lot of the world went on pause during the pandemic, many businesses stayed open.
"A lot of employers have not closed at all, and there is strong employer need,” he said.
Darku said though people are welcome to use the initiative to achieve certifications, he wants to be a resource beyond just one course.
“We are thinking about people holistically,” he said. “If they’re looking for something more substantial, we want to be able to have the ability to connect with them and give them those resources.”
Available courses are listed online. Ivy Tech has stated more courses and trainings are added nearly every day.
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