The Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board has received a grant from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to develop Career Advancement Accounts for Hoosier workers.

Career Advancement Accounts are self-managed personal accounts in which individuals in need of new skills receive funds to pay for expenses related to training and education.

The Career Advancement Accounts will be targeted towards adult incumbent, low- to mid-wage workers. Indiana’s Strategic Economic Development Plan, Accelerating Growth, calls for the establishment of the accounts ‘to fundamentally recreate the way in which training and education are funded via federal workforce dollars.’

“Career Advancement Accounts place more training dollars directly into the hands of workers, giving them an element of choice and a greater decision making role in the development of their careers. Instead of funding institutions, we are funding individual workers. It empowers workers by giving them the funds and flexibility to determine their own career goals," Governor Mitch Daniels said.

“The overall goal of this program is to help workers successfully enter, navigate and advance in the skills and jobs of the 21st century,” said Andrew Penca, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “These accounts represent a new, highly targeted tool aimed at helping certain categories of workers who are in need of new skills and training.”

Career Advancement Accounts (CAA) are a tool that will allow individuals to increase their skill level which in turn will lead to promotions, wage increase and competitiveness in the workplace.

Career Advancement Accounts assist in paying for training that leads to a nationally recognized certification or degree utilized in a demand occupation. Training cost consist of tuition and books for the program.

Career Advancement Accounts may be renewed for one year dependent on funding and individual participant success.