REGIONAL CONSORTIUM TO UPGRADE THE SKILLS OF WORKERS ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Grant Will Provide Training for 3,150 Employees at 182 Companies
CHICAGO – Continuing to invest in the skills of Illinois’ working men and women, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a $300,000 workforce training grant to the Heart of Illinois Regional Consortium, which includes Heartland Community College, Illinois Central College and Parkland College, to upgrade the skills of small and medium-sized companies. The grant will help train 3,150 individuals at 182 companies spread out among Champaign, Peoria and McLean and other counties across Central Illinois. This funding comes as part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s pro-active, comprehensive economic development strategy designed to spur more economic growth and create even more new jobs across Central Illinois and throughout the state.
“There’s no greater resource for any business than its people, and there’s no better way to continue expanding our economy than by investing in the skills of our greatest asset. As industries continue to evolve globally, we must make sure our companies across Central Illinois stay on the cutting-edge. By making these kinds of investments, we are helping companies across the region compete at home, across the world and create more high-paying jobs,” Gov. Blagojevich said.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the grant, which is being awarded through the Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP), to train employees in information technology, technical workplace skills, electronic media, safety and basic skills. ETIP is a new generation of employer-focused, customized training grants created through the “21st Century Jobs” Training Initiative, which reimburses companies and organizations for up to 50 percent of the costs of training their employees. Through this program, Gov. Blagojevich has invested $62.5 million to advance the skills of nearly 236,000 Illinois workers at almost 6,000 companies over the last four years.
Ellen George, Associate Dean of Corporate and Community Education at Illinois Central College indicates “an investment like the Governor’s ETIP program truly helps build the necessary skills for an organization to remain competitive and viable, which in turn creates a stronger community for all of its citizens.”
Heartland Community College (HCC), Illinois Central College (ICC), and Parkland College (PC) have partnered together for several years to serve the training needs of small and mid-sized businesses in their respective districts. HCC provides residents and businesses in its district with access to a broad range of educational programs responsive to individual and community needs in terms of curriculum outcomes, cost, convenience, and cooperation with other agencies. ICC provides district residents and businesses programs to transfer to baccalaureate programs, occupational and vocational programs in business and industry, basic studies programs for students in need of acquiring skills for success, and continuing education programs for lifelong learning. PC has become a center for educational opportunity and community enrichment in East Central Illinois and has earned a national reputation for its excellent academic standards, innovative programs, and quality instruction. This grant brings the Governor’s support for the Heartland Regional Consortium to almost $807,000 for job training over the last three years.
"Parkland College plays a vital role in ensuring that the companies across the state have employees with the right skills for the right jobs," said State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Gifford). "I will continue to work with our Governor to make sure these investments in our economy continue."
“We understand that the only way our companies are going to remain competitive is by having access to a highly skilled and trained workforce. That is what Parkland College does every day. This investment will play an important role for the economy in our region, and I am grateful the Governor is awarding this grant,” said State Representative Naomi Jakobsson (D-Urbana).
“Gov. Blagojevich and I have been committed to enhancing the skills of our workforce and supporting the assets that are the most desirable to businesses. The ETIP program continues to serve as an enormous resource for training providers like Heartland Community College, Illinois Central College and Parkland College, which are helping companies across the region increase productivity, reduce costs and enhance competitiveness in today’s ultra-competitive, global economy,” DCEO Director Lavin said.
Since January 2004, Illinois has gained almost 174,000 jobs, which is best in the Midwest. Illinois led the nation in new job growth in January 2007 with 19,100 new jobs. In 2006, Illinois gained 71,000 new jobs, which is the best calendar year gain since 2000. Over the last 4 years, from January 2003 to December 2006, Illinois had the second largest unemployment rate drop in the nation. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security compiled these statistics.
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.