KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - November 6, 2007 -- IBSA, Inc. today announced that it now has two new workforce training program approved by the Workforce Partnership which provides online access to training for eligible persons in Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Johnson County. The Workforce Partnership is a private nonprofit organization that serves as the workforce research, policy, and planning organization for Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.

Members of the Workforce Partnership board represent private employers, partner programs, organized labor, economic development organizations, educational organizations, and other partners. By law, a majority of its members must be representatives of private businesses, selected to ensure that the businesses represent the mix of employers in the area. In addition to new online training opportunities, IBSA is a veteran Resource partner for NetworkKansas.com and KCSourceLink.com. The agency provides extensive business planning, development and consulting to the emerging small, women and minority entrepreneurs in Kansas. Agency offices are located in Kansas City Kansas, Topeka and provides satellite services in Leavenworth and Johnson County.

"The two newly approved programs consist of Administrative Medical Spec w/Medical Billing and Coding, and a Certified Bookkeeper course. Providing online learning opportunities allows IBSA to utilize the upward trend in distance learning by utilizing Internet capacities and partnering with an industry leader. Technology has provided a unique chance for those looking to acquire a skill to land gainful employment; while substantially lowering travel expenses for income eligible program participants. Gatlin gave us the additional capacity we needed to continue growing," said Lazone Grays, IBSA President and Program Administrator. "The combination of support we receive from the Workforce Partnership and Gatlin Education Services (GES) is invaluable. Not only can we make extensive headway to decreasing disparity on public-funded development projects via our Entrepreneurial Training and Development Program, decrease the high unemployment of racial minorities in the counties we serve-we also expanded our ability to advocate for equitable and needed policies geared towards the underserved communities as a result."

The open enrollment programs now available were specifically designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional level positions for many in-demand occupations.

Additionally, programs selected are designed by a team of professionals from each respective field, who work to provide the most effective web-based learning experience available. Instructors/mentors are actively involved in our students online learning experience and collectively we respond to any questions or concerns, as well as encouraging and motivating program participants to succeed. Each program includes a set of lessons and evaluations; grades are a combination of the instructor/mentor's evaluation of students' work and computer graded tests.

Our collaborative effort via volunteers, staff and training consultants provide expertise, education and economic resources to Kansas entrepreneurs and job seekers from socioeconomically distressed communities, typically in the form of direct or indirect referrals or services that match the problem with solutions.

IBSA was established as a culturally unique provider of employment and training services in 1993 and have been a consistent voice for comprehensive employment services and entrepreneurship as a priority for economic and community development in the State of Kansas. Agency associations are backed by more than 400 business resource partners statewide through our affiliation with NetWork Kansas and KCSourceLink.com. These agencies combined promote a nationally-recognized entrepreneurial environment that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources they need in order to succeed. For more information about IBSA programs, projects and activities contact us at (913) 240-6247 or call our main office in Topeka at (785) 232-IBSA (4272). Entrepreneurs and small business owners are encouraged to visit www.networkkansas.com, www.KCSourceLink.com or call our office to speak with a guidance counselor.