The Indiana Plan is holding information sessions and testing for its three-week pre-apprenticeship construction training course.
Michigan City local officials are hoping residents take advantage of the offer to snag higher-paying jobs, the News-Dispatch reports.
Free sessions in Gary took place beginning Monday, Jan. 23 and continuing through the week.
The Indiana Plan website says the pre-apprenticeship orientation in Indianapolis will take place on March 8.
To qualify, a person must pass a ninth grade aptitude test and drug test, hold a valid driver’s license, be at least 18 years of age and have reliable transportation.
Jeff Deuitch, Michigan City human rights director, also serves as the city’s liaison to the Indiana Plan, the newspaper reported.
“This administration values higher-paying jobs,” he was quoted as saying. “Nobody wants to make minimum wage. (Through the Indiana Plan), nobody makes less than $14 an hour … It’s totally life changing.”
The local newspaper story continues:
The three-week course gives candidates training and a preview as to what each of the trade unions can offer. Through the class, participants will learn from electricians, carpenters, pipe-fitters, millwrights and more about the construction trades.
Upon completion, each will be placed on a construction job through a certification issued through the Department of Labor.
Deuitch said Michigan City has had about 22 people go through the Indiana Plan course so far – 16 of which are now working in union jobs.
The Indiana Plan was created as a way to help women and minorities enter the trade unions, but has since expanded to help everyone.
Michigan City supports this program as a way of helping city residents get construction jobs, which will then help support the city’s hiring ordinance.
This ordinance requires the construction wages of jobs contracted by the city to be paid to Michigan City residents. It applies to jobs exceeding $200,000 and imposes a penalty for non-compliant companies.
“The hiring ordinance is going exactly the way we want,” Deuitch said.
Companies have already been fined for their non-compliance, he said. But that money is being used to help send city residents to the Indiana Plan courses.
The goal is to have these individuals return to Michigan City as part of a qualified work force that can be hired by companies to complete construction work in Michigan City.
For more information see http://indianaplan.org.
- For central Indiana:
3530 S. Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46237
(317) 639-4661 phone | (317) 639-0982 fax - For northern Indiana:
3101 Broadway
Gary, IN 46409
(219) 884-4503 phone | (219) 884-4519 fax
