Through two new grants received from the U.S. Department of Labor, the State of Illinois will distribute funding to place, train and hire nearly 1,300 residents for an array of jobs.
To expand workforce training and hiring, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is implementing new programs to support workers dislocated during the coronavirus crisis, with funding from federal programs created in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including an $8.3 million grant from Disaster Recovery Grant Program and an $8.3 million grant from the Employment Recovery Grant both part of the National Dislocated Worker Program.
The grants are focused on leveraging dislocated workers in employment and training to assist with local disaster relief programs and in demand industries connected to the ongoing crisis.
The recently announced workforce training programs will provide out-of-work Illinoisans with new skills, allowing them to access jobs in industries that are central to the statewide economic recovery.
Funded positions include coronavirus recovery-related temporary jobs to help mitigate coronavirus in communities, such as contact tracers, coronavirus protocol workers, building sanitization workers, temperature screeners, and food preparation and distribution workers identified by local communities.
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.
DCEO will partner with local workforce agency partners to assist with filling roles in high need industry areas evolving as a result of coronavirus.
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 coronavirus 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 coronavirus response.
The LWIAs will identify local community-based workforce organizations to assist with filling roles in high need industry areas evolving as a result of coronavirus.
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 coronavirus 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 coronavirus response.
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, the LWIA for Chicago and Cook County, is receiving two grants totaling $8 million.
These grants will support a total of up to 700 participants throughout Chicago and Cook County, including those who have lost jobs due to coronavirus.
The Partnership received a total of $8 million in grants, including $4.27 in disaster recovery grants and $3.87 million in economic recovery grants.
Leveraging its disaster recovery grants, the Partnership selected Cara Connects, a mission-driven staffing firm, as one project worksite to provide humanitarian assistance employment as part of the coronavirus Disaster Recovery initiative.
Training will be conducted in partnership with the Northwest Side Housing Center in Belmont-Cragin.
All training and hiring will focus on inclusion of residents from neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Training and hiring for new workforce programs is expected to begin this fall, with start time of each program varying by location.
Participants will either undergo some form of training and/or receive supportive services, with many entering the job shortly after being trained.
Local workforce agencies will prioritize applicants impacted by layoff or termination during the coronavirus crisis at the time of their application.
A full list of coronavirus 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 coronavirus crisis. ■
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