Employment Opportunities Grants Awarded to Thirteen Organizations in Cook County and Across the State to Help Increase Diversity Within the Building Trades

CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced $6 million in grant funding to expand employment opportunities for minorities and other targeted populations in the building and construction trades.  This funding comes from the Employment Opportunities Grant Program (EOGP), a new workforce initiative which is providing grant dollars to 13 community-based organizations and educational institutions in Cook County and statewide.  This support comes as a part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s comprehensive economic development strategy to create even better jobs and greater employment opportunities across Illinois.

“These grants will provide a greater opportunity for African-Americans and other underserved populations to enter the building and construction industry, a key sector of the workforce filled with good-paying jobs.  By opening these doors, we are increasing the diversity within this industry and preparing more people for careers in this field, which will help keep our workforce strong and competitive and provide better opportunities for our working families,” Gov. Blagojevich said. 

Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), EOGP’s goal is to expand the number of people in historically underrepresented populations who enter and complete building trades apprenticeship programs and achieve journey-level status within building trades unions.  This will assist with the progression of obtaining employment and better wages in this field.  These populations often face significant barriers to entering the workforce and have not had access to the necessary skills training needed for entry into the wealth of jobs available within the construction trades.   The Capital Development Board (CDB), the state’s primary construction management agency, is also a key partner in this initiative.  

Grants were awarded to education institutions, grades 11-14, and community-based organizations to assist in expanding the number of people in targeted populations who enter and complete these apprenticeship programs.  All of the funded projects will provide successful participants with stipends and support services while they participate in the program, helping members within these targeted populations provide for themselves and their families, while gaining new, valuable skills.  

CDB, which is responsible for capital improvements and construction worth more than $3 billion annually, including elementary and high schools, college and university facilities and public safety centers, will also serve as a partner in providing employment opportunities to qualified candidates through the program. 

Below is a full list of the grant recipients:

Organization	Address	City	Grant Total
Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues	1020 W Bryn Mawr, 4th Flr	Chicago	$500,000
Chicago Public Schools Department of Education	125 S Clark St, 12th Flr	Chicago	$225,000
Chicago Women in Trades	1455 S Michigan, Suite 0	Chicago	$650,000
Coalition for United Community Action - O.R.T.C, Inc	2100 S Indiana Ave, Suite 218	Chicago	$500,000
Construction Careers Council of ACE Tech	5410 S State St	Chicago	$450,000
Dawson Technical Institute	3901 S State St	Chicago	$400,000
OAI, Inc	180 N Wabash, 4th Flr	Chicago	$750,000
Saint Paul Church of God in Christ Community Development Ministries, Inc	4526 S Wabash	Chicago	$400,000
United Services of Chicago	330 E 37th St	Chicago	$600,000
Lincoln Land Community College	5250 Shepher Rd, PO Box 19256	Springfield	$300,000
Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation	1468 East Wood	Decatur	$419,000
Peoria Educational Region for Employment and Career Training (P.E.R.F.E.C.T.)	2000 Pioneer Parkway, Suite 19C	Peoria	$350,000
Southwestern Illinois College	2500 Carlyle Ave	Belleville	$450,000

“It’s extremely important that we open the doors of opportunity for underrepresented groups to obtain the skills needed to access these jobs.  Working together with the Governor, this new program will enable more people to receive the training they need to obtain good jobs that pay the wages needed to support their families,” State Senate President Emil Jones Jr. (D-Chicago) said.

“The Employment Opportunities Grant Program will go a long way to create a stronger, more diverse workforce.  Gov. Blagojevich and I will continue to support these efforts that are helping more people build better lives across the region and statewide,” State Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago) said.

“This new grant program will help to link our many men and women who have not traditionally had the access or opportunity with the advanced skills training needed for good-paying jobs in the building trades.  I commend Gov. Blagojevich for stepping up to help address this important need,” State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) said.

 “In order to expand employment opportunities for minorities, we must invest in targeted skills training that will lead to better paying jobs.  This program will provide services directly to populations where this training
is needed most, and I look forward to continue working with Gov. Blagojevich, labor and contractors to expand these opportunities,” State Rep. Marlow Colvin (D-Chicago) said

“The best way we can help create better jobs for more people is by making this type of investment in our greatest asset.  Gov. Blagojevich and I believe that this new program is going to lead to better and lasting opportunities in an important and growing Illinois industry,” State Rep. David Miller (D-Dolton) said.

“We are very pleased to be working with Gov. Blagojevich and a number of other elected officials on this innovative program that is going to continue our other strong efforts to diversify the building and construction trades,” Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council President Tom Villanova said.

“Through this new program, we will be better able to tap into a greater cross-section of the population and increase the number of skilled workers in this field.  Gov. Blagojevich continues to demonstrate his commitment and support for labor by providing the resources needed for a more competitive workforce,” said Mike Faron, President of W.E. O’Neil Construction Co. and Chair of the Builders Association Industry Task Force. 

Program participants will be members of one or more historically underrepresented populations, which can include African-Americans, Hispanics, females, and African-American and Hispanic youth, including new high school graduates, and ex-offenders.  The funded programs will not only help cultivate workplace and technical skills, but will also build career awareness and exploration, address basic reading and math preparation and provide mentoring, so that this sector of the workforce will be more diverse.  To learn more about the program please visit: www.ildceo.net/eogp.

“With the awarding of these Employment Opportunities grants, Gov. Blagojevich is helping to create a stronger pipeline of trained workers who have the skills set to obtain and keep jobs in the construction trades.  This is an important investment not only to significantly increase the diversity within this industry, but also an investment in our economic future,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.

“The Capital Development Board has an impressive record of ensuring opportunities for minorities on state construction projects.  We are pleased to have been chosen, based on our past performance, to work jointly with DCEO on this new initiative.  This program will help close the gap between real opportunities and a scarcity of trained minorities in this important industry,” CDB Director Jan Grimes said.

Since January 2004, Illinois has gained more than 186,000 jobs, which is best in the Midwest.  Illinois led the nation in new job growth in January with 19,100 new jobs and in June of this year with 12,400 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.