Press release from the Talent Initiative:
Talent Initiative Launches New Website and Communications Campaign to Promote STEM Opportunities in Northeast Indiana
(September 20, 2010) – Today the Talent Initiative launched a new website as well as a large scale regional media campaign to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities in Northeast Indiana. The tagline for the campaign, “Talent Made Here,” is devised to instill pride in our regional talent and promote the many professional and educational opportunities that are made right here in the region.
The website, TalentMadeHere.com, hosts an array of educational and career resources specifically tailored to meet the needs of different age groups from middle school students up through the adult worker. The information is presented in an interesting and engaging manner and includes company profiles, social media feeds, videos starring the Talent Made Here spokesperson, polls and quizzes, and dozens of links to additional resources. The goal of the website is to show users that the education and training needed for an exciting, high-paying career can be found right here in Northeast Indiana, and once a person is trained for such a career, there are companies right here ready to hire, especially in the aerospace/defense and advanced manufacturing industries that are so prevalent in the region.
“Jobs in STEM-related fields are growing at four times the rate of other career sectors* and we want to equip our regional talent with the resources they need to compete in today’s knowledge-based economy,” said Talent Initiative Director Leonard Helfrich. “Northeast Indiana offers first class education and training opportunities as well as hundreds of companies looking for qualified talent in STEM-related fields; our goal is to make sure people know what’s out there and available to them.”
The media campaign will span the entire region of Northeast Indiana and incorporate radio, print, outdoor, TV, movie theatre advertising, social media and more. In addition, the Talent Made Here spokesperson-local actor/director and teacher at Homestead High School, Curtis Shaw-will be making appearances at schools and events throughout the region over the coming year.
“The goal of this campaign is to motivate the residents of Northeast Indiana to upgrade their work-related skills and take advantage of the numerous opportunities available to them in STEM-related fields right here in the region,” said Talent Initiative Communications Manager Courtney Tritch. “We plan on showing kids and adults alike that education can be fun and that education is a lifelong process. I know I’m still learning every day!”
For more information:
Website: https://www.TalentMadeHere.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/talentmadehere
Twitter: www.twitter.com/talentmadehereTHE FACTS
If the 23,000 Hoosiers who dropped out of the Class of 2009 had graduated, Indiana’s economy would have benefited from more than $6 billion in additional income over the course of their lifetime.
Source: Alliance for Excellent EducationThe average worker with a bachelor’s degree earns $20,748 more a year than a high school graduate.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics*DesMoinesRegister.com
About the Talent Initiative
The Talent Initiative, established by a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., is a 10-county regional program focused on accelerating education and training initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The primary goals of the Talent Initiative are to increase the base of highly skilled workers to meet the needs of the defense/aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries, while increasing job quality and reversing the current decline in regional per capita income. The program receives financial oversight from Community Partnerships, Inc., a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne and operational oversight from the Northeast Indiana Fund, a supporting organization of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.