Center for People’s Workforce Development Program Achieves 95% Completion Rate
Where Workforce Training Leads to Real Outcomes
Key Successes
Summary
Faced with a growing need to support its community members, Center for People implemented Interplay’s simulation-based training platform to create a safe, flexible, skilled trades program for low-income individuals seeking financial independence in Nebraska.
With the ability to create individualized learning pathways, the Center offered in-house, simulation-based training in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, facilities maintenance, and warehouse equipment, like forklifts.
Interplay’s on-demand training courses helped Center for People remove existing transportation and scheduling barriers for learners, resulting in the completion of over 600 courses in the first year.
The program has achieved a 95% completion rate, demonstrating high participant engagement and commitment.
Interplay’s platform is now a core tool in the Opening Doors program, providing incarcerated individuals at the Nebraska Department of Corrections with hands-on, remote skill development.
As a result of this new skilled trades program, Center for People successfully placed 37 individuals in skilled trades jobs in 2025, directly contributing to economic independence and lowering recidivism.
About Center for People
Center for People is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting low-income and justice-impacted individuals across 43 Nebraska counties, helping them take meaningful steps toward economic independence. By addressing basic needs and providing comprehensive workforce development programs, Center for People creates pathways to lasting self-sufficiency and breaks cycles of poverty and recidivism.
Training
Goals
- Transition participants from low-wage, unstable work to full-time roles in the skilled trades.
- Reduce challenges associated with program creation and administrative management.
- Offer flexible, remote, and accessible training options for those who can’t train in person.
- Deliver safe, industry-aligned curriculum and certifications that meet the needs of local employers.
Challenges
- Limited access to hands-on training opportunities.
- Lack of available, qualified trades instructors.
- Rigid, in-person class schedules and a lack of reliable transportation prevent members from attending physical classes and traditional apprenticeships.
- Safety concerns over inexperienced participants operating real equipment.
Creating Equitable Pathways to Better Employment
Furthering its mission to transition low-income individuals toward economic independence, Center for People sought to offer a high-impact skilled trades program. However, delivering traditional training was challenging due to the limited availability of skilled trades instructors, as well as participant barriers, such as a lack of transportation and restricted access to physical facilities. To overcome these obstacles, Center for People launched the Interplay Learning platform, which immediately enabled them to deliver flexible, accessible career pathways for in-demand skilled trades, such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.
High-Impact, High-Reward Training
Interplay’s 3D simulations, VR, and self-paced courses effectively removed logistical barriers, delivering hands-on curriculum and providing a low-risk, high-reward environment where participants could train safely. This self-paced format has been highly beneficial for adult learners, allowing them to build confidence and revisit complex topics as needed.
The platform also provided program managers with the ability to easily create individualized learning paths and offer valuable credentials and certifications, such as OSHA 10-Hour Construction and EPA 608, ensuring that graduates leave the program with documented, in-demand skills and industry credentials that prospective employers value. As Katie Bruggeman, Director of Education at Center for People, explains, “I don’t have to do a ton of research. I know and trust Interplay’s platform, which makes my life easier.”
Results with Lasting Impact
Since the launch, participants have completed over 600 courses, earning 330 course certificates. Center for People has achieved an outstanding 95% completion rate in the program, reflecting strong participant engagement and commitment. This new talent pipeline has led to 37 individuals being placed into skilled trades jobs, including various opportunities offered through the Employers of Choice, a group of vetted local employers.
This success is not just about numbers; it is about life-changing opportunities. Katie shares, “Interplay has really kept us on top of our game with how we deliver curriculum. Our learners are confident that they are qualified candidates, and employers recognize that too.”
Opening Doors: From Justice-Impacted to Job-Ready
The Opening Doors program, offered by Center for People in partnership with the Community Corrections Center of Lincoln, prepares incarcerated individuals re-entering the workforce to build skills, gain confidence, and secure sustainable employment. By integrating Interplay’s training, participants can assess their abilities, get hands-on practice through 3D and VR simulations, and progress at their own pace as they prepare for life after release.
Jason Smith, a graduate of the Opening Doors program, discovered his career path while training with Interplay’s forklift simulations. After completing the Center’s four-week forklift program, he continued building experience inside their People’s Pantry warehouse, where he practiced on real equipment and supported the Center’s daily operations. His commitment didn’t go unnoticed. Jason’s volunteer work led to a job offer. Today, he holds OSHA 10-Hour and OSHA 30-Hour credentials and serves as the Warehouse Operations and Safety Manager, overseeing the same forklift program that helped him get job-ready.
“The sky’s the limit with Interplay. It gives you so many pathways to make progress in your life and proceed in whatever route you want to go.” – Jason Smith, Warehouse Operations and Safety Manager, Center for People
Summary
Center for People’s partnership with Interplay has created reliable pathways to stable employment, economic independence, and successful re-entry into the community. With high completion rates, industry-recognized skills, and numerous job placements, the program is delivering tangible results that strengthen Nebraska’s workforce and open doors to long-term opportunities.
“Center for People’s programs help us build a strong transition for individuals returning to the community and, by supporting sustainable employment, ultimately lower Nebraska’s recidivism rate.” – Allison Drescher, Assistant Warden, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.
Discover How Center for People's Workforce Development Program Achieved a 95% Completion Rate with Interplay Learning
