Gary's Work B.I.G. Initiative Tackles Blight and Offers Employment to Residents

Mayor Melton, the City of Gary and the Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI) are proud to launch Work B.I.G. (Beauty in Gary), a transformative program designed to address neighborhood blight while equipping local residents with job training.

Work B.I.G. is a 15-week paid training program that focuses on blight removal and general services. Participants will gain hands-on experience and earn $15 per hour throughout the training.

The initiative is inclusive by design, welcoming justice-involved individuals and those without a high school diploma. Its mission extends beyond cleaning up the city—it aims to create real career pathways in high-demand sectors like logistics, construction, and manufacturing.

Work B.I.G. is a collaborative effort between the City of Gary, CWI, Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Ivy Tech Community College, and WorkOne Northwest Indiana. Together, these partners are aligning resources to offer a program that addresses both immediate community needs and helps residents with local mployment opportunities.

The first cohort of the program is scheduled to begin on April 28, 2025. To apply, visit CWI website: https://www.cwicorp.com/workbig/

Residents are invited to join the City of Gary and CWI for an informational session on Friday, April 18 at 4PM. To RSVP, click here: https://bit.ly/workbigfaith