Training To Support New Manufacturing Jobs

A new training program will support a neighborhood based workforce development project in Indianapolis. 

Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana will partner with Conexsus, an organization that helps Indiana businesses prepare and employ advanced manufacturing and logistics opportunities. New, paid training will be offered for up to 50 Northeast side residents who may end up working for another partner, Cook Medical.

Cook Medical President Pete Yonkman said more businesses can, and should, invest in opportunities to improve quality of life for disinvested communities.

“Every job opening, every new facility, every initiative that we undertake, if we just think a little bit differently,” Yonkman said.

The advanced manufacturing training will translate to jobs at the new Cook Medical facility being built at 38th Street and Sheridan Avenue. That project aims to improve quality of life for residents in the northeast side Indianapolis neighborhood by creating opportunity. 

United Northeast Community Development Corporation Executive Director Ashley Gurvitz said the goal is to create a model for community improvement.

“We want to be that example,” Gurvitz said, “to show that hope can be reactivated.”

Yonkman said many communities in Indiana have similar needs.

“I see the same struggles in community after community,” he said. “They’re asking, ‘Where’s our healthcare? Where are our grocery stores? Where’s our education system?’”

The company plans to hire 100 new workers starting at $15 an hour. Goodwill has partnered with Cook to employ its workforce.

The Make & Move training program is supported through a $200,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase.

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