INvets to power Indiana communities with $50,000 grant from Duke Energy Foundation

Indianapolis, IN – INvets received a $50,000 grant from Duke Energy Foundation to recruit veterans leaving the military to live and work in Indiana.

The INvets Ambassador initiative will allow the organization to employ representatives on two major military installations outside Indiana. These representatives will actively engage military service members nearing the completion of their service and connect them with career opportunities, communities, and resources in Indiana through the INvets platform.

“Throughout 2020, INvets experienced tremendous growth that quickly maxed out our team’s capacity. The funding provided by the Duke Energy Foundation through this grant, will allow INvets to take our veteran engagement to the next level in terms of reach and level of service. The INvets Ambassador program will help us maximize the efficiency of our efforts to connect veterans with great lives here in Indiana while providing a much-needed talent pipeline for Hoosier employers,” said Wes Wood, Executive Director at INvets.

“We know that veterans have training, technical skills and leadership qualities that transfer to business,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. “We employ hundreds of veterans, and we recognize the value they can bring to Indiana’s workforce.”

“Our administration continues to make recruiting veterans to Indiana a priority,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “This grant will help INvets reach men and women near the end of their military service as part of our collaborative approach to attract skilled, employable military personnel as they transition from service. I look forward to hearing the success stories of the INvets Ambassador initiative and want to thank Duke Energy Foundation for its investment in expand Indiana’s workforce.”

INVETS

INvets, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, constitutes the private side of the State of Indiana’s public-private partnership initiative, Next Level Veterans. Under Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch’s leadership, this initiative aims to grow and streamline the pipeline of military veteran talent entering the state every year and provide an easy access point for employers of all types.

INvets combines digital marketing tactics with in-person engagement at military installations across the nation to present Indiana-specific career opportunities, communities, and resources to active-duty service members and military spouses. INvets’ website, INvets.org, facilitates connections between veteran candidates and employers throughout the state. Over 2,000 veteran candidates have registered with INvets in 2021 alone. Over 200 active employers currently use INvets’ platform.      

INvets offers community-strengthening services at no charge to Indiana employers thanks to state, corporate, and philanthropic funding.    

DUKE ENERGY

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 840,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. In Indiana, the Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation