Many Idahoans who lost their jobs or experienced reduced hours because of the pandemic continue to need support in finding work or retooling for a new career.

Enter Idaho Launch, a new program designed to connect those Idahoans with funding, education and career planning resources essential for rejoining the workforce. The program’s intuitive navigation guides users to research training opportunities by industry, region or skill.

Based on a statewide survey of more than 800 Idaho employers who identified skills they need in workers, the Idaho Workforce Development Council (WDC) developed SKILL SYNC, a tool on the Idaho Launch website for job seekers to match their skills to employer needs. On the website, users can search hiring trends, discover employer needs, see regional employment snapshots, research training opportunities and apply for training funds.

Wendi Secrist, executive director of the WDC, is urging Idahoans impacted by the pandemic economy, to act quickly to take advantage of federal CARES Act funds that are now available for education and training. Applicants can qualify for up to 100 percent of tuition assistance, she said. Idahoans who were not affected by the pandemic are also eligible for between 75-90% tuition assistance through Idaho Launch.

The funding is open now, and the first step is filling out a simple form on the Idaho Launch website. This will connect interested Idahoans to a career planner at the Idaho Department of Labor, who will initiate a consultation to help with career research and evaluate the amount of funding that may be available.

The site also provides access to partner programs in the state, including Next Steps Idaho, JobScape and Idaho Opportunity Scholarship.

– Idaho Department of Labor