As challenging as the faltering economy has been for the entire country, it has been doubly so in East Chicago which, even before things went south for everyone in 2008, was struggling on the jobs front. Now, the city is faced with the third-highest unemployment rate in Indiana. Fortunately, the administration of Mayor George Pabey identified employment as a top priority three years ago and began an innovative partnership with local businesses and educators to develop quality, good-paying jobs for residents.

The program is known by the acronym JET, which stands for Jobs, Education & Training. It is a three-part program that matches qualified individuals to jobs with local employers; positions high school graduates for college or the job market; and ensures that job retraining programs match the needs of local employers. The program has given approximately 300 East Chicagoans increased earning potential since its start in 2006.

On the jobs front, ³we work with people who come into our office to match their education level and skills with the needs of businesses,² says Cathy Delgado, training consultant. As an example, she points to BP¹s current project to upgrade and modernize its Whiting refinery. ³We have worked with BP and their vendors to find qualified people, and so far we have placed 29 people with their vendors,² she says.

Recently, BP returned the favor, presenting the city with $50,000 to help maintain the program. BP spokesman Tom Keilman praised JET and the man who started it. ³I commend the mayor because he is doing exactly what he outlined when the JET program was created,² Keilman said. ³Many residents have benefited from the JET program and also, many businesses have experienced success stories through this unique partnership.² For those without jobs who need new skills, the JET program has collaborated with companies such as NIPSCO, BP and St. Catherine Hospital on training programs specifically designed to teach the skills those employers are seeking. It¹s a perfect opportunity for people to shift to a new career while they are drawing unemployment benefits, Delgado notes.

For example, programs began last month at Ivy Tech Community College which, in cooperation with NIPSCO, began offering career development certificates in industrial technology and natural gas technology. These certifications pave the way for careers such as electric lineman, substation electrician, plant mechanic, power plant operator or gas serviceman.

Other programs developed under the auspices of JET include a certified nurses assistant training program done in concert with St. Catherine hospital. The program provides state-certified training with the cost split between the city and the hospital.

In the process of setting up these programs, it quickly became clear that education was an issue. ³When we started, we had a lot of high school dropouts,² Delgado recalls. So the city sat down with Ivy Tech and six major employers‹ArcelorMittal, BP, Praxair, Safety Kleen, NIPSCO, and Union Tank‹to create a 24-college-credit-hour manufacturing and technology certificate for students at East Chicago Central High School. The city also worked with the Center for Workforce Innovations to implement a work ethics program endorsed by the companies involved.

Students enter the program their junior year, and can potentially graduate with 24 college credits and a certificate in the Work Ethics Program. This can lead to job interviews with supporting companies, or if the student is moving on to higher education, the credits can be transferred to schools like Purdue University Calumet and Indiana University Northwest.

For those who dropped out, JET provides counseling and referral to local GED programs. Once individuals get their GED, they can come back to JET for training or job placement.

The JET program is a key piece in the Pabey administration¹s efforts to revitalize East Chicago, efforts which include tens of millions of dollars in civic improvements, and a reborn downtown business district and North Harbor.

³Our strategy is simple,² Pabey says. We are determined to keep East Chicago working cohesively with business and the community to revitalize the city.

We have experienced a great deal of success in a short period of time by maximizing resources and giving the city back to its residents.² Those successes include the commencement of construction on the $10 million North Harbor townhome complex last fall; a much-needed makeover of the business district, including new sidewalks, trees, and street furniture; $10 million in street and infrastructure improvements over the past two years in the North Harbor, including last summer¹s renovation of Nuñez and Callahan parks; and the completion of the first phase of reconstruction on the former Harbor Library as the Carnegie Performing Arts Center in January. The crown jewel of the North Harbor project, the Center is due to be opened sometime late this summer.

The city has also had success wooing employers back into East Chicago with aggressive tax breaks. Last month, East Chicago welcomed a new 46,000-square-foot Strack & Van Til Supermarket‹and its 150 jobs‹at Indianapolis Boulevard and Chicago Avenue. Strack spent $5 million to renovate the former Sterks and Walgreens stores in the city, ³just the beginning of a long and rewarding partnership with the City of East Chicago,² president Dave Wilkinson promised at the store¹s grand opening.

The company has already had discussions about opening a second East Chicago location.

Between a JET program that better prepares the youth of East Chicago for a rewarding career, and helps find good jobs for those looking for work, and a commitment to bringing businesses back to restored and thriving neighborhoods, the long-term outlook for East Chicago residents is bright.

³We will continue this commitment because in order for our city to flourish, we must have a strong working community,³ Pabey says. ³We have many resources to offer and by developing solid relationships with local business leaders, job and career opportunities are being offered to East Chicagoans.²