Lawrence County Economic Growth Council earns national recognition for rural workforce innovation at Federal Reserve Bank’s Summit

LAWRENCE CO. – Lawrence County has garnered national attention for its innovative rural workforce programs, with Joe Timbrook, Director of Career Development for the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council (LCEGC), presenting on their success at the Federal Reserve Bank’s Policy Summit 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The summit, attended by over 600 leaders from 33 states and three countries, highlighted Lawrence County as a model for rural innovation.

Timbrook’s presentation, titled “Building Rural Community Learning Systems,” emphasized the county’s collaborative, data-driven programs that support workforce reentry and adult education. A prime example of this success is the Introduction to Local Jobs and Skills (ILJAS) program, designed and managed by the LCEGC.

The ILJAS program has already helped more than 250 individuals acquire trade skills, boasting an impressive 90% program completion rate and a recidivism rate of less than 10%. This initiative has also significantly improved local unemployment rankings, moving Lawrence County from #2 to #34 out of Indiana’s 92 counties. The successful model was developed through collaboration with over 35 local organizations, multiple state and national grant sources, and the judicial system. The LCEGC has also implemented new systems for adult education, literacy, and industry certification, all of which are tailored to meet the needs of rural residents.

The LCEGC is now calling on local and regional stakeholders, including businesses and employers, to provide sponsorship to help expand this momentum. “With sponsorship from businesses and employers,” said Timbrook, “we can deepen this impact, close remaining workforce gaps, and serve as a national example of rural revitalization”.

For more information about Lawrence County’s workforce initiatives or to learn how to support them, visit

www.lawrencecountygrowth.com. The LCEGC can also be reached at 812-275-4493 or via email at joe@lawrencecountygrowth.com, with its office located at 1116 16th Street, Bedford, IN 47421.