Additional funding proposed for city budget to help pay for post-secondary education in Indianapolis

The city has set aside more funding for a program that helps people pay for post-secondary school.

The Indy Achieves program provides scholarships and grants to students working towards a degree or certification. This year’s proposed city budget adds $500,000 to boost the number of people to benefit from the program.

Indy Achieves Executive Director Matt Impink said the goal is for everyone in Indianapolis to be able to access a good and promising job.

“A big part of that strategy is making sure everyone has the education and training that they need,” Impink said.

Indy Achieves is a program under Employ Indy, the city’s workforce development organization. The program launched in 2018 and partners with IUPUI and Ivy Tech to help students. It also works with other organizations to provide additional wrap-around services for students.

Impink said students might run into any number of issues while pursuing higher education.

“We know that even if a student is doing everything right, they may still have some financial need that prevents them from finishing their degree or credential,” he said.

Just 41 percent of Marion County residents hold credentials beyond high school. Projections show that by 2025 60 percent of Indiana jobs will require some form of post-secondary credentials.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @JillASheridan.