We welcome Josh Richardson, the new commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development! Indiana's Workforce Development Boards have enjoyed an iterative relationship with Commissioner Richardson during his time at DWD. We look forward to continue to work with him to innovate Indiana's public workforce system, and to meet the needs of Hoosier employers and jobseekers!

Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG)

Update for the 2025/2026 School Year

For nearly two decades, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) has quietly but powerfully transformed the lives of thousands of Indiana students who face the greatest barriers to success.

Since early this year, the Indiana Workforce Alliance and its partners have advocated and fought for JAG, to ensure continued state support for this proven program. Despite our efforts, it is with great sorrow we share the news of the loss of critical JAG state funding needed for the 2025/2026 school year. This includes an elimination of support in the state budget. Additionally, we have been notified that no federal TANF dollars (which were used in recent years to expand the program) will be available for JAG.

Realistically, this means that JAG's current 250 programs across the state will be reduced to several dozen - those programs that do remain will be self-funded by Indiana's Workforce Development Boards through other smaller funding sources that are available, or through community and school partner support.

This news affects hundreds of our JAG specialists across the state who have worked hard to make JAG the successful program that it is - we love and appreciate each of you. Your work has made a huge impact on the lives of these students and we thank you.

This news also impacts our wonderful JAG students. We are committed to ensuring that these young Hoosiers are successful, despite the elimination of JAG funding. Specifically, the Indiana Workforce Alliance and Indiana's Workforce Development Boards will continue to serve these students through those JAG programs that we can continue to run, as well as through our career coaching and youth work based learning initiatives. We are committed to providing robust workforce programming for all Hoosier youth, and will look to our partners to help us realize this vision.

With this door regrettably closing, it is important to note the great success and accomplishments this program has brought to thousands of youth across the state of Indiana. Hope was found, futures were made brighter, and careers forever changed because of the great opportunity JAG offered each respective community.