Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 14 Agosto 2022 S PRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commer- ce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) opened the application for the second round of Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Pro- gram funding. The $15 million in funding will increase training opportunities, expand the talent pipeline, and boost diversity in the construction industry and building trades. Approximately $8 million in funding will target increased geographic diversity and parti- cipation from diverse groups not represented in current program- ming through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and approximately $7 million will be available through a contract extension to current grantees who have excelled at key benchmarks. "In Illinois, our greatest asset is our people—and we are commit- ted to diversifying our workforce and supporting upward mobility for underrepresented popula- tions," said Governor JB Pritzker. "The first round of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Pro- gram saw incredible results, and I couldn't be more excited to expand this program to ensure that Illinoisans across the state have access to the resources and wraparound support that sets them up for success." The Illinois Works Pre- Apprenticeship Program laun- ched in 2021 with the goal of increasing diversity and access to apprenticeship programs. Comprehensive pre-appren- ticeship programs can help participants gain admission to apprenticeship programs, which provide a greater oppor- tunity to obtain employment in the construction trades. During the first program year, Illinois Works awarded nearly $10 million in funding to 22 orga- nizations, servicing approxima- tely 1,000 participants across the state. Signed into law in 2019, the Illinois Works Jobs Pro- gram Act is designed to pro- mote diversity, inclusion, and use of apprentices in state- funded capital projects. The Act created three major pro- grams: the Illinois Works Pre- Apprenticeship Program; the Illinois Works Apprentices- hip Initiative, and the Illi- nois Works Bid Credit Program. Together these three programs aim to create a talent pipeline of skilled and diverse candida- tes to fill new job opportunities created by the Act. The deadline to apply for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program NOFO is the 27th of Sept- ember of 2022 at 5:00 pm. Additio- nally, DCEO will be hosting a series of informational webinars. Addi- tional information and registration links can be found here: WIOA Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship NOFO 2022 (illinoisworknet.com) Governor announces $15 Million to expand Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL PROGRAM LAUNCH, ILLINOIS WORKS OPENS A SECOND ROUND APPLICATION TO EXPAND GEOGRAPHIC REACH WHILE FURTHER INCREASING DIVERSITY CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Commer- ce announced that the Department's Economic Deve- lopment Administration (EDA) is awarding $33 million in Ame- rican Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grants to fund two critical workforce programs in Illinois. The investment inclu- des $18.5 million for the Chica- go Cook Workforce Partnership, which will create sustainable pipelines to good-paying jobs, and $14.7 million to Illinois Central College in East Peoria which will create an IT training program in partnership with local companies. "President Biden is commit- ted to expanding career oppor- tunities for more Americans to secure good-paying jobs," said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. "This EDA inves- tment supports ready-to-scale projects that will significantly expand training opportunities to strengthen the pipeline in key industries in East Peoria and Chicago." The program is awarding grants to 32 worker-centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships across the coun- try from a competitive pool of 509 applicants. The $500 million program is expanding oppor- tunities for more Americans to access and secure good-paying jobs by investing in innovative approaches to advance worker- centered, industry-led workforce training partnerships. "A strong workforce pipeline with integrated support along the way is essential for giving all Illinoisans a pathway to suc- cess," said Governor JB Pritzker. "As industries across Illinois are rapidly growing, it's important that our workforce not only expand, but also learn new skills for the jobs of the future. This funding will give local organiza- tions the tools to educate wor- kers and build a stronger future for our state. The Illinoisans ser- ved by these programs want to grow and succeed, and I'm thri- lled that President Biden's admi- nistration is partnering with our state to ensure they have the opportunity to do so." Critical Illinois Workforce Programs receive $33 million in grants AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN GOOD JOBS CHALLENGE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS IN CHICAGO AND EAST PEORIA

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