BEDFORD – After three weeks of technical and employability skills training, the ninth graduating class of the Lawrence County Introduction to Local Jobs and Skills (ILJAS) program saw seven new Lawrence County residents give back to their community.
Through this process coordinated by the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council’s (LCEGC) Workforce Coalition, students were able to focus on paths of Construction and Welding by making 2-seat benches with a tabletop between the seats, and metal firepits with cutouts. At the conclusion of the class, 3 benches and 4 firepits were donated for the community’s use at Avoca Park & Recreation.
“This program is a culmination of discussions with employers and community stakeholders throughout the past four years,” says LCEGC Director of Career Development, Joe Timbrook. “We know there is a large population of residents in Lawrence County that, with some training, could fill the current increasingly high employment openings we see with our local and high-demand jobs. During this program, we were excited to have representatives from WF Meyers, General Motors, Stone City Products, North Lawrence Community Schools, Basin, and ILTI speak about their companies, current employment openings, and additional training opportunities to ILJAS participants.”
As a result of the continued success with ILJAS, the Lawrence County Workforce Coalition is currently accepting students for cohort 10 which is slated to be held from August 9 – August 25, 2022. 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 Joe Timbrook at 812-583-1095 or joe@lawrencecountygrowth.com.
About the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council:
The Lawrence County Economic Growth Council is a non-profit, local economic development organization (LEDO) existing to support growth of Lawrence County Businesses including startup support, workforce solutions, and technical assistance which promotes investment that improves the quality of life for our citizens. Learn more at www.lawrencecountygrowth.com.
