INDIANAPOLIS — A new plan to help Hoosiers who lost their jobs because of COVID-19 get back to work was announced by Governor Eric Holcomb Friday.
It's called Rapid Recovery for a Better Future, and its focus is on providing support for people who need to find work or learn a new skill that will lead to employment.
“People are our state’s most valuable resource and they are what define Indiana as a great place to live, work and grow. It is critical that our state is not only providing these services but actively helping people get connected so they take that next step to a better future,” the Governor said.
The Rapid Recovery initiative focuses on helping Hoosiers:
- Learn about options and connect to relevant, simple and real-time job, career, skill and educational resources and funding for personal advancement. An online hub, YourNextStepIn.org [yournextstepin.org], provides connection and one-on-one support.
- Connect to opportunities with the assistance of career coaches and navigators to help people assess and develop their skills and gain better understanding of job needs and opportunities.
- Take the next step and advance their careers with convenient access to accelerated programs and credentials that value prior learning and experiences.
Federal funding through the CARES Act injects $50 million into the effort. People who have two and four-year degrees and have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 can qualify for grants to help find new jobs or for training.
“The goal of Rapid Recovery for a Better Future is to streamline access to resources, help Hoosiers identify and pursue a path forward, and reach people through trusted and local outreach networks. Utilizing federal funding through the CARES Act will allow us to expand these efforts and reach even more Hoosiers,” said Teresa Lubbers, chair of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and Indiana’s Commissioner for Higher Education.
“Taking the next step toward a better future is a manageable way for people to move toward economic and workforce recovery, whether that is re-skilling for a different job, finishing a credential or finding a new career.”
