The Franklin Initiative

A program of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, the Franklin Initiative is a 501(c)3 organization that provides career awareness and workforce development services for youth in Bloomington in Monroe County, Indiana.

The Chamber’s Franklin Initiative works with teachers and schools to offer real-world experiences for students that help them realize the relevance and importance of their education to life and the world of work after graduation.

Franklin Initiative programs include the Reality Store, Career Speakers Bureau, mock interviews, and employment fairs, as well as coordination of job shadowing, internships, and service learning opportunities. For more information about specific Franklin Initiative offerings, please click on "Programs" to the right.

A key focus of the Chamber’s Franklin Initiative is dropout prevention. The Franklin Initiative Stay In School Partnership (SISP) and Graduation Coach Initiative helps high school students stay in school, graduate, and get a good job or pursue continuing education. Graduation Coaches at Bloomington High School North, Bloomington High School South, and Edgewood High School in Ellettsville work one-on-one with students who are at-risk of dropping out to remove barriers to graduation and help them receive their diploma or GED.