32 INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL CENTER PLAN 2020 PLANNING DOWNTOWN�fS FUTURE TODAY WORKING DOWNTOWN 10.  JOBS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Improving the education level of participants in the workforce is crucial to successfully competing in the market place.  Improving education levels can mean increasing reading competency, enabling lifelong learning, focusing on lowering the number of people at or below the employment threshold and supporting the development and expansion of existing educational institutions and recruitment of new educational institutions. In an increasingly multicultural society, recognizing language and cultural issues is an important step to reducing impediments to employment.  Supporting the connections between education and jobs will help prepare for employment in the life science industry. Promoting workforce development as a key to economic development is an important concept.   The building of stronger working partnerships among those involved in economic development, workforce development and education, particularly technical training and education, is one of the most important aspects.   It is important to increase the awareness of workforce characteristics and present this information to employers in order to communicate training opportunities.  This will link qualified workforce to employment and improve the offerings of employer-based agencies. GOAL 10.A Promote workforce development as a key to economic development. OBJECTIVES Partnerships Build a strong working partnership of those involved in economic development, workforce development and education, particularly technical training and education. Development  Provide assistance to commercial developers and realtors promoting developments that will bring new jobs to the Downtown. GOAL 10.B Develop programs to eliminate language and cultural diversity as an impediment to employment. OBJECTIVES Life Sciences  Prepare for employment in the life science industry. Job Connections  Support the connection between education and jobs. Language  Recognize the relationship of language, educational progress and employment issues. Anthem Lytle Operations Center GOAL 10.C Increase the awareness of workforce characteristics and present the information to employers. OBJECTIVES Linkage  Link the qualified workforce employment opportunities. Employer Needs  Assess current and future employer and supplier needs for employee education and training. Employers  Support employment programs. Training  Communicate training opportunities to employers. GOAL 10.D Improve the education level of all current and future participants in the workforce. OBJECTIVES Competition  Successfully compete for jobs in the market place by improving education. Employment Threshold  Focus on lowering the number of people at or below the employment threshold. Educational Institutions  Support the development and expansion of existing educational institutions and recruitment of new educational institutions. Literacy  Increase the adult literacy rate.   Approximately 42 percent of the potential workforce does not meet minimum standards. Lifelong Learning  Provide programs that enable lifelong learning. See page 83 for projects and programs related to the topic of jobs and workforce development. IUPUI Biotechnology Research and Training Center