INDIANAPOLIS — More than 120,000 residents in Marion County filed for unemployment between March and June due to COVID-19, but a new resource created by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana provides a central location for those dislocated workers to connect with available jobs or training opportunities. Job seekers will log into an online platform called the Ascend Network. Then, the job seeker will follow a streamlined process to connect with needed career services and get individualized support to help them find meaningful employment or training.
The Rapid Re-Employment Response plan is a coordinated effort by the Regional Workforce Partnership (RWP) comprised of nonprofits, employers, state agencies, and community organizations. At the request of Mayor Joe Hogsett, the RWP has turned its collaborative efforts toward a unified plan to assist residents of Indianapolis in getting back to work as quickly and safely as possible.
Job seekers who live or want to work in Marion County can visit www.employindy.org/rapidreemploymentresponse where they will create a login and follow a few short steps to direct them toward the most relevant service, whether that is connecting with jobs immediately or receiving career readiness resources such as skills training. In either path, job seekers will receive personalized support to help navigate their path to applying for a job.
The Ascend Network serves job seekers from a variety of educational backgrounds and experience. This will allow employers to connect with a broader pool of talent by rapidly re-employing individuals who have been displaced by the pandemic. Over $1 million in initial funding for this effort was made possible by federal CARES Act spending appropriated by the City-County Council.