News & Notes

Disability Conference a Huge Success

On Wednesday September 24th, WorkOne hosted a conference to focus on the challenges faced by job seekers with disabilities.

The conference highlighted the Ticket to Work program.  This Federal program allows eligible clients receiving disabilty payments to continue to receive those payments for a length of time while they re-enter the workforce.

Attendees were able to network with local service providers as well as attend several workshops conducted by local employers.  The workshops offered were:

• Saving and Budgeting - 5/3 Bank
• Eating Healthy on a Budget - Purdue Extension Office
• What Employers are Looking For - Rose Hulman and Hamilton Center
• Starting Your Own Business - Indiana State Small Business Development Center

The event concluded with our guest speaker, Josh Bleill.  Now a Community Spokesperson for the Indianapolis Colts, Josh shared his story of perseverence after losing both of his legs while serving as a Marine in Iraq.

Josh's message of facing challenges head on with the help of others and finding the positives in each day was a fantastic ending to a great day.

Click Here to View Photo Gallery

Media Coverage:

Tribune Star

WTWO

WTHI 

WorkOne to Sponsor Disability Seminar

WorkOne is partnering with the Disability Employment Initiative to host a seminar on Wednesday September 24th.  The goal of the seminar is to provide job seekers, employers and support staff with the information needed to address issues related to disability in the workplace. 

Click here to view the flyer for the event.

Our featured speaker will be Josh Bliel of the Indianapolis Colts. 

 Marine Corporal Josh Bleill [Bly-ul; rhymes with “Kyle” or “smile”]  is a native of Greenfield, Indiana. After graduating high school, Josh attended Purdue University. Upon completion of his education, Josh decided to serve his country by joining the United States Marine Corps in 2004, and was activated for a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006. 

While serving in Iraq, Corporal Bleill was severely injured, resulting in the loss of both of his legs.  After extensive rehabilitation, Bleill returned to Indiana in August of 2008, where he attacked his new life head-on.  This new life included employment as the Indianapolis Colts Community Spokesperson.

 Indianapolis Colts Owner, Jim Irsay, has described Bleill as “very talented, bright-eyed, and skilled,” and Josh now travels the country to spread his message of hope, “one step at a time.”

Other presentations to include:  

What are employers seeking in a job candidate?  

The benefits and challenges of starting your own business.  

How budgeting and banking fit into this process.  

What is the Ticket to Work initiative?

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Holiday Inn Terre Haute, In

8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

To register for the event, please click here.

2014 Program Year WIA Local Plan for Public Review and Comment

WIA Local Plan Available for Public Review and Comment

The Workforce Investment Act was adopted in 1998 to coordinate and improve employment, training, and education systems.  This legislation mandated the creation of local Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) as a vehicle to develop and ensure the implementation of a unified and effective strategy for addressing local workforce development issues and meeting local area workforce needs.

The federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 requires each local Workforce Investment Area (WIA) develop a comprehensive Local WIA Plan describing its local workforce service delivery system. 

The Western Indiana Workforce Investment Board (hereafter referred to a WIWIB) Program Year 2014 Local Plan will be available for public review from May 29, 2014 through June 27, 2014 on the WorkOne West website; www.workonewest.com or at the WIWIB office, located at 630 Wabash Avenue, Suite 205, Terre Haute, IN.

Written comments will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on June 27, 2014 and should be directed to:

Lisa Lee, Executive Director

Western Indiana Workforce Investment Board, Inc.

630 Wabash Avenue, Suite 205

Terre Haute, Indiana 47807

or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here to view the addendum for 2014 Program Year

Click here to view the Local Plan

WorkOne Hosts Partner Conference

On Friday the 13^th WorkOne hosted its annual Community Partners Conference.

The conference brought together nearly fifty individuals.    Participants were able to network and discuss ways we can all work together to better serve our customers.

Representatives from the various agencies provided presentations/updates on the valuable services that they provide to our community.  The conference featured presentations from:

• Experience Works
• The Hamilton Center
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Adult Basic Education
• Disability Resource Coordinator
• WorkOne
• Vincennes University
• Ivy Tech Corporate College

Thank you to all who participated in the conference and for all that our partners do for our community.

Click here to view photos from the event

RFP For Audit Services

RFP for Audit Services Provided to the Western Indiana Workforce Investment Board

Direct questions or inquires to Tim Kelley at 812-238-5616  extension 3 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To review the entire document, click here.