Our goal is to close the gap of three cohorts of unemployed and underemployed workers in each geography to achieve a median income that begins to align with USA levels and compete for the future.

NWI WORKS
ECONOMIC IMPACT

We have assessed 111 NWI census tracts in eight geographies to determine the primary locations for Opportunity Collaboratives in distressed neighborhoods.

Over 80 sessions have engaged community leadership to recommend Opportunity Collaborative locations in the following communities.

  • Michigan City

  • East Chicago

  • Hammond

  • Gary

  • LaPorte

  • Portage

  • Valparaiso

  • Jasper and Newton Counties

Collective Potential Economic Impact
in Michigan City and East Chicago by 2032

To date, the initial Opportunity Hub locations identified by active local community leadership include Elston Middle School in Michigan City and the former Carrie Gosch school in East Chicago. We are still defining leadership and locations in the other geographies.

MICHIGAN CITY & EAST CHICAGO
ECONOMIC IMPACT

IF WE ENGAGE 4,853 ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED WORKERS TO ACHIEVE THE SAME WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
This is in addition to impacting currently engaged workers in these categories.

Focus areas for economic impact:

Youth (18-24)

  • Closing the youth employment gap*

  • Closing the youth underemployment gap

Prime Age Adults (25-54)

  • Closing the prime age employment gap

  • Closing the prime age underemployment gap