IU Health funding secures job opportunities for Jay County high school seniors

Five Jay County Jr./Sr. High School students spent their summer working as paid industrial maintenance interns thanks to support from the IU Health Community Impact Investment Fund initiative.

The $200,000 grant gifted to The Portland Foundation supports early learning and workforce development in Jay County, suppling the John Jay Center for Learning with funding to purchase industrial equipment for those who want to learn or grow in the critical mechanical trades.

The goal of the program is to better prepare John Jay students with skills that will allow them to go directly to the workplace after high school. The five students who secured internships are hopeful they will turn into full-time positions.

The grant comes at a crucial time to support Jay County. When the pandemic struck the community, the unemployment rate skyrocketed from less than 5% to 20.2%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The support provided by IU Health will help Jay County address these important community needs.

“The funds we received are helping to build our capacity and provide quality education and training to students, helping them better their lives financially and contribute positively to their communities.,” says Rusty Inman, John Jay Center for Learning executive director.

Established in 2018 to address social determinants of health in Indiana communities, IU Health’s Community Impact Investment Fund is administered by the IU Health Foundation and supports Indiana organizations that help Hoosiers cope with social and economic hardships.

If you would like more information about programs like this one in Jay County, contact Brad Edmondson, CFRE, IU Health Foundation director of philanthropy, East Central region.