GROW Lawrence County Sees Continual Success With Sixteenth Graduating Class

On June 20, 2024, thirteen (13) Lawrence County residents became the 16th graduating class of the Lawrence County Introduction to Local Jobs and Skills (ILJAS) program during a special ceremony at the North Lawrence Career Center. Through this three-week technical and employability skills training coordinated by the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council’s (LCEGC) GROW Lawrence County Adult Education program, students were able to learn the basics of Construction, Machining, and Welding. All participants attained information regarding  Health & Safety careers and received certification in CPR, first aid, and Stop the Bleed. A portion of the participants will be continuing their education through GROW Lawrence County Adult Education to obtain their High School Equivalency Diplomas (HSE) at no cost. 8 participants intend to enroll in Indiana’s NextLevelJobs program (at no cost) as they’ve shown interest in advancing into construction, welding, and truck driving careers. 3 participants’ “next step” will involve interviewing for a job with local companies of their choice. This class brings the total number of graduates for the ILJAS program to 153.

GROW Lawrence County Adult Education Coordinator Cathy Bullington says, “Next steps are an important part of the ILJAS program. This program is life-changing and has been humbling to witness; however, none of it would have been possible without our sponsor, Smithville Charitable Foundation, and our community of invested stakeholders coming together to make it happen. We wish to thank our community partners for helping our participants become educated about resources in the community. Sarah Kleber-Lowery, a wraparound facilitator from Centerstone, provided information on when and where to seek mental health assistance. Brigid Thomas and Kristen Hutton, IU Health Navigators, passed out information on health insurance and how to find a healthcare provider. Township Trustee Millard Jones, Families Forever Board Member Linda Henderson, and Executive Director of Stonebridge Health Campus Megan Alldredge assisted with how the county can help, programming options, and what qualifications employers typically seek from applicants. Nathan Watson, Bedford Public Library Director, facilitated a fun and interactive session that included role-playing several on-the-job scenarios to understand the soft skills needed for employment.”

As a result of the continued success, GROW Lawrence County Adult Education is currently accepting students for the next cohort to be held August 12-29, 2024. The ideal student is a Lawrence County resident not yet earning a living wage. If you are interested in participating in the program, or an employer interested in getting involved, please contact Cathy Bullington at 812-797-3559 or cathy@lawrencecountygrowth.com.

About GROW Lawrence County Adult Education: GROW Lawrence County Adult Education (under the direction of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council) brings together business, education, and community leaders to develop and promote education-to-career pathways that prepare Lawrence County residents for successful careers and provide our workforce with the skilled labor it needs to prosper both today and in the future. Learn more at www.lawrencecountygrowth.com.

About the Smithville Charitable Foundation: The Smithville Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 in an outpouring of the Draper family’s generosity and desire to enrich the lives of people served by Smithville Communications. Each year, the Smithville Charitable Foundation generously gifts to many different causes. Learn more at www.smithvillefoundation.org.