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Pritzker joined Illinois Department of Labor representatives and
Chicago Women in Trades representatives on Thursday to discuss
the funding and explain how the money will be used.
"By cementing this priority in the implementation of the $1.2
trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the Biden-Harris
administration has established a new era in our efforts to
diversify an industry that has historically lacked job
opportunities for women, and particularly for women of color,"
Pritzker said. "We may still have a long way to go in
dismantling decades' worth of barriers, but we're making
progress on building that future today."
Pritzker said Illinois will always be a state that supports its
labor workers.
"This is a city and a state that has played an important role in
the struggle for labor rights," Pritzker said. "From the 1887
Haymarket affair to the 1894 Pulman strike to the passage of the
worker's rights amendment to our state constitution just last
year, Illinois has been for many, many years at the forefront of
fighting for fair wages, reasonable hours, and safe working
conditions for all people."
Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan said the
goal of the funding is to incorporate more women into the field.
"It's our goal with this grant while working alongside Chicago
Women in Trades, we can continue to transform the public
construction and infrastructure workforce to include more
women," said Flanagan. "That starts with greater access to the
industry, apprenticeships, and using data to measure retention
and opportunities for advancement."
The grants are a part of Pritzker's $41 billion infrastructure
plan that aims to fix roadways, bridges, and highways in
Illinois.
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