Pritzker Announces $16 Million
Investment to Connect Out of Work Illinoisans with 1,300 COVID-19
Response Jobs
Funding from the U.S. Department of Labor
will Boost Training and Hiring for Roles Created by Ongoing Crisis;
Residents Impacted by COVID-19 will be prioritized
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[September 15, 2020]
Governor Pritzker announced a new $16.6
million investment to expand job opportunities for Illinoisans who
have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through two new
grants received from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will distribute
funding to place, train and hire nearly 1,300 residents for an array
of jobs related to the ongoing pandemic response.
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The funding includes an $8.3 million grant from
the federal Disaster Recovery Grant Program and an $8.3 million
grant from the federal Employment Recovery Grant – both part of the
National Dislocated Worker Program. The grants will provide out of
work Illinoisans with training and employment in jobs that assist
local disaster relief programs and industries in high demand amidst
the pandemic. Funded positions include COVID-19 recovery-related
temporary jobs to help mitigate COVID-19 in communities, such as
contact tracers, COVID-19 protocol workers, building sanitization
workers, temperature screeners, and food preparation and
distribution workers identified by local communities.
“Even when times are hard – especially when times are hard – we have
to invest in the things that lift up our communities – and we gather
today to celebrate another such effort. I’m proud to announce that a
$16.6 million investment to expand job opportunities for Illinoisans
who have become unemployed in the COVID-19 pandemic – to place,
train and hire nearly 1,300 people for an array of jobs in Rockford
and across the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This federal
funding – made possible by the Department of Labor’s Emergency
Recovery and Disaster Recovery Grant programs – will help us address
a goal for reinvigorating our economy that is two-fold — returning
more of our residents to the job while simultaneously addressing new
economic demands brought on by COVID-19.”
“The investments we’re making today will help grow jobs and bring
more Illinoisans back to work while helping respond to key needs
created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said DCEO Director Erin
Guthrie. “As workers across the country continue to feel the impact
of this pandemic, Governor Pritzker’s investments in workforce and
continued focus on the public health response will help us start to
make continued progress in bringing people back to work and
regaining our state’s economy.” The State
will distribute funding to 12 Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIAs)
spanning 7 regions across Illinois. State of Illinois LWIAs
represent employers, local government, community colleges, and
community-based organizations which partner with DCEO to provide
year-round training and support to communities across the state.
The Workforce Connection in Rockford is one of 12 LWIAs designated
to receive grant funding and will use funds to expand education and
training to serve an additional 75 eligible residents in Boone,
Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. Every year the agency uses
federal workforce funds to place over 1,000 residents in training
programs dedicated to helping participants gain meaningful
employment in jobs in demand today.
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“During a time when individuals find themselves
unemployed through no fault of their own, we want to support them as
they change careers,” said Dr. Lisa M. Bly-Jones, Executive Director
of the Workforce Connection in Rockford. “With extensive experience
serving dislocated workers, we know that they are eager to return to
work. This grant will fund short-term training programs that are
less than 12 months in length, on the job training and paid work
experiences.”
DCEO will partner with local workforce agency partners to assist
with filling roles in high need industry areas evolving as a result
of COVID-19. The 1,300 positions represent a mix of new and existing
roles – with Disaster Recovery grants supporting contact tracers,
community health coordinators, food distribution and emergency
pantry workers, and COVID-19 custodians. Employment Recovery grant
funds will be leveraged to seek out low-wage dislocated workers and
provide vocational training and work-based learning that provides
skills and competencies in expanding occupations and industries
connected to the COVID-19 response.
“The coronavirus pandemic is disrupting jobs and changing the skills
employees need to do them,” said State Senator Steve Stadelman
(D-Rockford). “To meet this challenge, state government and its
partners need to step up to help ensure workers are equipped with
the skills critical to our economic recovery.”
“These investments are a critical step to help Illinois residents
and business owners impacted by COVID-19 in Rockford and across
Illinois,” said Tom McNamara, Mayor of Rockford. “Every community
has been affected by the pandemic, and these grants will help place
job seekers in roles that are in high demand. I thank the Governor
and his administration for his continued support and commitment to
getting our residents back to work during these challenging times.”
Training and hiring for new workforce programs are expected to begin
this fall, with the start time of each program varying by location.
Participants will either undergo some form of training and/or
receive supportive employment services, with many beginning jobs
shortly after training is complete. Local workforce agencies will
prioritize applicants impacted by layoff or termination during the
COVID-19 crisis at the time of their application.
A full list of COVID-19 workforce training grantees as well as their
program offerings is available on the DCEO website as well as Get
Hired Illinois – the state’s one-stop-shop portal to connect
Illinoisans with available training and hiring opportunities with
growing industries during the COVID-19 crisis.
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |