Help on Way For Carrier Workers

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The city of Indianapolis is setting aside more than $1 million for transition assistance and hiring incentives for workers affected by Carrier Corp. layoffs. Mayor Joe Hogsett says companies that hire and retain a displaced Carrier worker for at least one year will be eligible for up to $1,000 in incentives. In addition, the city is offering up to $1,000 per impacted employee for transition assistance to help with expenses including transportation, childcare and work-related equipment. The funding comes from the incentive package returned to the city by the company.

The hiring and retention incentive program will be administered by the Department of Metropolitan Development. To be eligible, a company must hire a displaced Carrier worker and retain that person for at least one year in a position that pays at least $16 per hour. The incentives are designed to supplement hiring and onboarding costs for companies.

Last week, Carrier began its first round of layoffs from its Indianapolis manufacturing facility by letting 338 employees go. More than 630 employees are expected to be cut by the end of the year. The impacted jobs are not part of the deal announced in November by then President-elect Donald Trump to keep the Indianapolis plant open and retain 800 workers.

Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis says the two-pronged approach to help impacted workers is appropriate, saying the city has "a responsibility to leave no stone unturned to provide resources that will ease the financial and emotional obstacles they will face."

During a news conference this morning in Indianapolis, Hogsett said the new programs are the latest in ongoing efforts to help displaced workers. He says Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Representative Andre Carson (D-7) helped the city secure a grant to help it revitalize former industrial sites and facilities to help strengthen the manufacturing sector. He also cited numerous job and opportunity fairs as well as a partnership with financial expert Pete The Planner to provide workers with free financial guidance.