Laserfiche WebLink
44 <br />WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT <br />Through the Pathways Program, the City of <br />South Bend provided funding for workforce <br />development training for 103 South Bend <br />residents in 2024. Upon compleƟ on, parƟ cipants <br />received cerƟ fi cates from their perspecƟ ve <br />trainings and once again have the potenƟ al <br />to advance their careers to the next level and <br />all-around improvement in their quality of life <br />through hard work and learning addiƟ onal <br />skills. Trainings were provided by Purdue MEP, <br />and parƟ cipants were aff orded the opportunity <br />to select from a variety of courses, including <br />Leadership Skills for Success (targeƟ ng both <br />frontline and management levels), Transfer of <br />Knowledge, Fundamentals of Electricity and <br />TroubleshooƟ ng, ArƟ fi cial Intelligence. There was <br />also a “boot camp” for residents at the South <br />Bend Community Reentry Center to assist them <br />with their transiƟ on back to the community aŌ er <br />incarceraƟ on. <br />In 2024, the City rolled out a program to assist <br />residents seeking a Commercial Drivers License <br />(CDL-A) and looks to expand and enhance <br />workforce development programs in 2025. <br />Upskill SB is a workforce development program <br />launched and co-administered by DCI and I&T. <br />Upskill SB subsidizes training and exam costs for <br />professional, industry-standard cerƟ fi caƟ ons <br />in informaƟ on technology, business and <br />management, healthcare, and solar and energy <br />effi ciency. <br />In 2023, the Offi ce of Sustainability worked <br />with the Growth and Opportunity team and the <br />Civic InnovaƟ on team to add solar training to <br />the course list and expand the climate-related <br />off erings for the second cohort. <br />GROWTH & OPPORTUNITY <br />In 2024, Upskill SB supported 7 members in <br />pursuing the NABCEP Solar PV Associate credenƟ al <br />and 1 member pursuing LEED cerƟ fi caƟ on and <br />facilitated a workshop for 16 members of South <br />Bend Realtors for its NaƟ onal AssociaƟ on of <br />Realtors (NAR) Green DesignaƟ on. <br />DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT <br />BUSINESS LICENSING <br />The Department of Community Investment <br />business license team aids small business owners <br />and professionals with the tools needed to <br />succeed and operate lawfully in the services they <br />provide. The City provides resources to help new <br />establishments through the process of opening <br />a business by providing federal, state, and local <br />regulaƟ ons as well as providing resources for small <br />business incenƟ ves, training, and counseling. In <br />2024 there were 1,019 business and occupaƟ onal <br />licenses issued, resulƟ ng in a total of $123,926.30 <br />in revenue.