Project Manager, Career Advisors Needed for Think B.I.G., City of Gary’s Blight Elimination Project

Inspired by a successful initiative in Detroit, this training program aims to be the foundation of a talent development strategy that will offer residents essential skills for immediate employment and future career advancement.

GARY, Ind. (January 13, 2025) — Blight has been a significant challenge for Gary for decades. However, a new collaboration between the city and the Center of Workforce Innovations, in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Goodwill, aims to use workforce development to transform the community.

The ambitious project, called Think B.I.G. (Beauty in Gary), was the brainchild of Gary Mayor Eddie Melton. Conceived initially as a volunteer program energized by community activist Markael Watkins, the program will evolve into an opportunity to bring more than 100 jobs to Gary, targeting the area’s unemployed and underemployed residents.

Modeled after a successful program executed in Detroit, the training program serves as the cornerstone of a talent development strategy designed to equip participants with essential, foundational skills for immediate employment and future career growth. To get this program started, recruitment is underway to hire a project manager and career advisors.

“The real focus and real investment that we are proposing is eliminating skill gaps and investing in Gary residents,” explains Bryann Gibson, CWI’s Senior Outreach and WorkOne System Liaison. “This is a foundation for larger future municipal growth.”

Full job postings, including a link to apply for both positions, are available at cwicorp.com/thinkbig. The position is open to candidates throughout Northwest Indiana; however, priority will be given to Gary residents or those who are connected to the community. Interested candidates should contact Amber Reeves at areeves@cwicorp.com for more information.