Jackson County Workforce Partnership Program

In 1998, Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation (JCIDC) was instrumental in creating the Jackson County Workforce Partnership, a program with a goal to bring industry, schools, local elected officials and economic development leaders together to make the county's employers more competitive.

The following are some of the highlights and activities of the Partnership:

• The Educator Internship is a program designed to establish interaction between educators and industry.  The goal is to give educators an opportunity to visit companies in the area exposing them to workplace skill requirements including technical and interpersonal.  This also gives business an opportunity to learn about current curriculum being taught in the schools, concerns/issues of the educators, and ways they can assist the educators in preparing students for the workforce. The program enables ten educators to spend four days at eight different industries.  This internship is open to educators, guidance counselors, and administrators at all four school systems.

• In the summer of 2006, the Partnership, in conjunction with Ivy Tech Community College, will be conducting a 2-week internship targeting Jackson County educators desiring to earn credit toward their teaching license renewal by participating in an on-site, hands-on internship at numerous industries in Jackson County.  Upon completion of the two weeks, educators will be required to submit an outline with their intentions of incorporating information obtained during the two weeks into their classroom curriculum. 

• The Partnership has established new programs and assisted with existing programs in the schools in an effort to increase student awareness of career opportunities in Jackson County helping to better prepare them for the workforce and future employer expectations.  Some of the programs are job shadowing, company tours, classroom presentations by company representatives, industry-to-school day, mock interview sessions for high school seniors, high school mini job fairs, and an upcoming apprenticeship program and involvement in the Project Lead The Way curriculum.  Middle school activities include participation in the "21st Century Business" program and Real World Seymour Career Day.  In addition, numerous opportunities have been made available for summer internships for high school and college students.

• A Business Profile containing information regarding company information, product, compensation, benefits, etc. is available in guidance departments at the county high schools and middle schools for use by educators and students in the classroom.

• In addition, a Workforce Brochure has been produced outlining companies in the Partnership pointing out occupational opportunities as well as quality of life issues for Jackson County.  These brochures are in place at college and university career centers throughout Indiana and used at career fairs in which the Partnership participates. They also serve as a recruiting tool to former graduates who have located outside a 50-mile radius enticing them to give Jackson County a closer look as a place to live and work.

Funding entities in the Partnership in addition to JCIDC:

The four school systems served in the Partnership:

• Brownstown Central Community Schools
• Crothersville Community Schools
• Medora Community Schools
• Seymour Community Schools

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