CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the awarding of $215,000 in workforce training grants to Joliet Junior College, which will allow the school’s economic development arm to administer critical skills training to more than 1,100 workers at more than 40 different area companies. The grant comes as a part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s pro-active, comprehensive economic development strategy designed to spur the economy and create jobs across Northeast Illinois. The grant, which is being awarded through the Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP), was announced by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin this afternoon with school officials, local leaders and participating area manufacturers in Joliet.
“For this regional economy to stay strong and vibrant, it is essential that our manufacturer’s stay competitive. There’s no asset more important to any company than its workforce, and these training grants are ensuring that the skills of more than 1,100 local workers stay on the cutting-edge so that they continue to help Illinois manufacturers compete and thrive on the global stage,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
The Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) is a new generation of employer-focused, customized training grants created through the “21st Century Jobs” Training Initiative. DCEO administers the ETIP grants, which reimburse companies and organizations for up to 50 percent of the costs of training their employees. Joliet Junior College/Institute of Economic Technology (JJC-IET) and Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association (TRMA) partnered together to serve the training needs of small/mid-sized businesses in their district. The College will provide training in a variety of areas, including computer skills, Quality-ISO-Safety and Technical/Workplace skills.
“Joliet Junior College’s Institute of Economic Technology has long recognized the impact manufacturing has on our regional economy and the career opportunities manufacturers offer to our residents. These opportunities are not the low-tech, manual jobs of the past, but the high paying and technology enhanced jobs of the future. With the input of local manufacturers, career awareness assistance from the Three Rivers Manufacturers Association, and the financial support from Gov. Blagojevich and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Joliet Junior College can turn good employment dreams into reality,” says Andrew Mihelich, Associate Vice President of Extended Campuses, Joliet Junior College.
“Gov. Blagojevich understands that the best way to help businesses meet their constantly changing needs and stay productive and profitable in the marketplace is to provide hands-on support. Training grants such as these that enhance the quality and efficiency of a company’s workforce do exactly that and will keep our local economy moving full-speed ahead,” State Senator Arthur J. (“A.J.”) Wilhelmi (D-Crest Hill) said.
“Gov. Blagojevich and I strongly believe that for our manufacturers to remain productive and competitive, they must operate more efficiently than ever before. These training grants are helping companies throughout our area do exactly that, and that means greater job security for our workers and more economic opportunity for this region,” State Rep. Jack McGuire said (D-Joliet).
“Gov. Blagojevich understands the need to invest in the skills of our workforce to realize the economic potential of Joliet. Workforce training grants like these are critical to helping local manufacturers stay competitive so they can create and retain good jobs,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh.
“The strength of our local economy depends on the quality and diversity of its workforce. By boosting the skills of more than 1,100 local workers, these training grants are playing a vital role in keeping this economy moving forward. This is a tremendous partnership for our community,” said Joliet Mayor Art Schultz.
Over the past two years, Gov. Blagojevich’s Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) has provided more than $23 million to companies in Northeast Illinois to boost the skills of more than 80,000 workers.
“Gov. Blagojevich has made it a top priority to ensure that the state’s workforce programs act as an invaluable partner to business. The Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) provides critical resources to local businesses to train their workers in cutting-edge technologies, and it delivers those resources on demand. Investments like these are the key to building a world-class workforce in Illinois that acts as a vigorous engine of economic growth and job creation,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.
Joliet Junior College is the oldest community college in America, as well as one of the first colleges to create a division whose primary function is business and industry training. TRMA, established in 1933, is a not-for-profit organization that serves the training needs of local manufacturers in Grundy and Will counties. TRMA offers training programs geared toward regulatory compliance required by OSHA and the EPA; and updating and improving the skills of the production and maintenance personnel working at local manufacturers to ensure the companies remain competitive in the marketplace.
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.