La PORTE — County officials pledged $175,000 for a job-skills training assistance program to help a local company retain 60 good-paying office jobs and add as many 175 more.
Phil Woods, president and CEO of CareEnroll, 1900 W. Severs Road, said his greatest impediment to expansion in La Porte is training for call-center employees and data accountants.
Expansion at CareEnroll is tied to changes in health care, specifically an expansion of the Medicaid program known as the “1115 waiver,” which funds experimental, pilot or demonstration projects. CareEnroll helps health care providers and health plans achieve their goals by helping patients enroll in an appropriate health plan and maintain their coverage.
The company was established in 2004, Woods said, but was acquired two years ago. He said finding employees who have the skills needed has been a challenge.
“In La Porte County, there really is no competing call center, so there’s not a broad base of people to pick from like there is in Indianapolis or other locations,” Woods said.
“We have to find the right person, but when we find the right person, we need to train them from the ground up,” he said. “Many times we’re teaching them what it’s like to work in an office environment because of the heavy percentage of manufacturing jobs here.”
Members of La Porte County Council approved a resolution Monday night demonstrating their support for the training program.
While this project will involve about 45 new positions in the near term, “we’re anticipating more down the road,” Woods said.
Mike Seitz, the county’s economic development coordinator, said the company is working with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. on the new program. He said those who complete skills training must report their progress to the county before the company can be reimbursed.
Pay for call-center employees will exceed the county’s average wage rate of $18 per hour, according to Seitz. Training would take up to two months.
The company has requested no other incentives, he said.
County Council attorney Shaw Friedman said this initial resolution would be followed by interlocal agreements spelling out details. At least one other Indiana county, Tippecanoe, has undertaken a similar training program in conjunction with the state.
“I think you’ve shown your willingness to give Economic Development the tools it needs to encourage job growth,” Friedman told council members. “This is just another example of that.”
Funding for the program would come from the county economic development income tax or one of the riverboat revenue funds, according to the resolution.