Community Involvement
During that time, we have been pleased to contribute to surrounding communities as an employer and taxpayer, as well as a supporter of a range of undertakings aimed at community improvement.
We have also done our best to be a corporate partner, particularly with our neighbor cities of Whiting, Hammond and East Chicago. Members of the BP Whiting Business Unit welcome the opportunity to engage, invest in and improve these communities where we live, work and raise our families.
BP Whiting Business Unit Community Advisory Committee
As part of this participation, we have formed the BP Whiting Business Unit Community Advisory Committee. The committee’s members include local residents, business and other community leaders and BP management, all united for the purpose of exchanging information about issues relevant to the Whiting refinery and adjacent communities. The committee is a way for BP to keep interested citizens informed about the refiner’s activities, to make the community aware of BP’s community investment projects, and, most importantly, to listen to community interests.Fabric of America
In 2009, BP’s Fabric of America program has given each BP employee $500 to donate to one or two local non-profit organizations of their choice.Education and Job Training
BP Whiting Refinery is investing in construction and industrial manufacturing training programs in Northwest Indiana. We are investing not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because helping local residents develop the skills they need for the future will go a long way in helping to meet the future employment needs of the Refinery.- JET Program: The Whiting Refinery participates in East Chicago’s JET program (jobs, education and training) that provides residents with training from Ivy Tech Community College which enhances their skill-sets and better prepares them for jobs with BP contractors such as Fluor.
- Indiana Plan: The Whiting Refinery supports the “Indiana Plan” which provides pre-apprentice training to minorities pursuing careers in the Building Trades.
- BP Ambassador Program: BP is educating high schools students in Northwest Indiana about job opportunities at the Refinery. Working with East Chicago, Whiting and Hammond through the School Cities’ Career Advancement Centers.
- A+ for Energy: In 2009, BP is providing a limited number of $5,000 and $10,000 grants to School Teachers (Kindergarten through Grade 12) for Energy Education.
- East Chicago Education Foundation: BP provides a stipend to the East Chicago Foundation which then issues teaching grants that support innovative curriculum in East Chicago.
- Hammond Education Foundation: BP provides a stipend to the Hammond Foundation which then issues teaching grants that support innovative teaching curriculum in Hammond.
- Northwest Indiana Urban League: BP works with the Urban League to educate minorities and disadvantaged populations or career and contract opportunities at BP and for the Whiting Modernization Project. One Urban League program, Read & Rise, helps grade school children develop the basic reading skills they need.
- Ivy Tech Process Technology Program: Now in its second year, the Process Technology is a 2-year educational program that provides technical, computer and safety skills training to college-aged students to help prepare and encourage marginalized community members for career opportunities in industrial or refining industries. The Process Tech program is critical to helping Northwest Indiana replace its skilled aging workforce, so that our communities remain a competitive investment environment into the future. BP employees participate in the “Process Tech” program by teaching some of the seminars.
- The City of Whiting Scholarship: The BP Foundation is contributing to The City of Whiting’s Scholarship Fund, which awards up to 3 graduating high-school students with an award of $2000 each year over four years to support continuing education from an accredited institution in the region. Award recipients will be in the top 20% of the graduating class, and must be the legal dependents of residents owning and occupying a home in Whiting.
For City of Whiting Scholarship application information click here.
- Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center: The Whiting Refinery supports the Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center which provides local children with opportunities to participate in a number of ecological education activities.
