Indiana: I GET IT

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report list Puerto Rico, Michigan and Nevada having the highest unemployment rate during the month of February. These states found themselves in the double digit, 16%, 14% and 13%. This may have given Indiana a moment to give a sigh of relief coming in under 10%.

Indiana weighed in at 9.8 % just above the national average of 9.7%. However, in some counties in Indiana, such as Allen County, unemployment rates have surpassed the U.S. average at 11%. Temporary workers for the United States Census Bureau may have reduced the number of unemployed in the area is one reason suggested as to why Allen County numbers are not higher.

But that's not the only bad news for Indiana unemployed workers. Indiana is borrowing money to provide unemployment benefits to its Hoosiers. It was just seven years ago, that Indiana had $1.4 Billion dollars in its trust for unemployment. But, it is all gone. This means the State of Indiana unemployment reserve was depleted in 2008.

However, Indiana DWD has received received a $6 million grant from the US Department of Labor to provide green job training.
The grant will fund "Indiana's Green Energy Technology Instruction and Training" (I

GET IT). The statewide program will provide skills training and on-the-job experience in the green energy sector to over 2,100 dislocated autoworkers, unemployed Hoosiers, out-of-school youth, and adults with barriers to employment. Additionally, the program will establish an Advanced Energy Training Center to facilitate the state's transition to a green economy. Details about the training programs and application process will be announced this spring.

Allen county is eligible for the training for those counties impacted by automotive restructing.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development partnered in this grant proposal with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Ivy Tech Community College, Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center and the American StructurePoint, Inc.

The DOL has released more grant money to communities to get workers back to work. $1.8 million in funding is available to Women in Apprenticeship and Non-traditional Occupations.

Eligible applicants include community-based organizations that form a consortium with at least one Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor in targeted industries. Organizations must demonstrate their experience in either directly providing or securing job training services, and providing placement and support services to women. Registered Apprenticeship programs will be responsible for placing women in employment through apprenticeship programs in the targeted industries.

Fort Wayne unwittingly appears to be headed in the direction of Detroit or Gary, Indiana. So what does that means for those African-Americans living in the core of the city of Fort Wayne?

If the unemployment rate is at 11% for the city, more than likely the unemployment rank for African-Americans is probably at least 33%. This is even worse news for young AFrican-Americans living in the city.

We must start a non-profit for creating empployment for our young folks, because our folks are not looking out for their future. I GET IT but does our African-American leadership get it?