INDIANAPOLIS (October 2, 2006) – Ivy Tech Community College announced today that the college is receiving $1.05 million from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to launch Major Opportunities, a pre-apprenticeship training program focused on increasing the number of Hispanics and African Americans participating in building and construction trades.

The program will include 111 hours of in-class training in basic math and science skills and work place safety. Classroom learning will be supplemented with an extensive on-the-job training component. Students completing the program will be prepared to pass apprenticeship entrance exams and will have the skills necessary to work safely on the job site.

Participants will be recruited and screened by contractors certified as minority owned enterprises. Contractors will screen participants to verify that they are drug-free, hold a valid driver's license and have transportation. Potential participants will take the Workkeys assessment, provided by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, and a Compass assessment, administered by Ivy Tech, in an effort to place them in appropriate classes.

The Major Opportunities program will be offered at the Ivy Tech Community College campuses in Gary , South Bend , Fort Wayne , Indianapolis and Evansville . Ivy Tech anticipates enrolling more than 400 students in the program.