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Commission previews plan to use Promise scholarship for local solar training
Summary
A commissioner said Kyla Ward, director of the Michigan City Promise scholarship, reacted favorably to using Promise funds to pay tuition for local residents to take solar-installation certification courses; an ordinance to the city council may be needed to authorize the change.
Commissioners discussed linking local workforce training to scholarship support at the July 9 meeting.
Committee member (speaker 3) said she spoke with Kyla Ward, director of the Michigan City Promise scholarship, about using Promise funds to pay tuition for Michigan City residents to enroll in solar-installer certification courses operated by Soul Power. "She was extremely favorable," the member said, and commissioners discussed setting up the administrative structure to make the change work for nontraditional course cycles.
The member said the change may require an ordinance to the city council because the Promise scholarship cycle and eligibility rules differ from the timing and target population for technical certificates. "I'm probably gonna need to, introduce an ordinance to the city council," the member said. Commissioners agreed the idea could reduce financial barriers for residents seeking solar training while creating a potential local workforce pipeline for installations and repairs.
Members also discussed Solar United Neighbors, regional partnerships, and the Indiana Clean Community program as complementary supports for training and outreach. No formal vote or ordinance language was proposed at the meeting; the item will require staff coordination and a council process to proceed further.
