Grant Will Provide Training for 1,450 Employees at 22 Companies

CHICAGO – Continuing to invest in the skills of Illinois’ working men and women, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a $70,000 workforce training grant to Joliet Junior College-Institute of Economic Technology (JJC-IET), who has partnered with Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association (TRMA), to upgrade the skills of employees at small and medium-sized businesses in the region.  The grant will help train 1,450 individuals at 22 companies across Will and Grundy counties.  This funding comes as a 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 Northeast Illinois.   

“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 the manufacturing industry continues to evolve globally, we must make sure our companies across Northeast Illinois and throughout the state stay on the cutting-edge.  By working together with Joliet Junior College and Three Rivers and 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 technical workplace skills, information technology and ISO/safety.  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.

“In order to help companies across the region stay competitive, we must make targeted investments in our workforce, providing the necessary skills needed to thrive in today’s constantly-changing economy.  Our thanks to Gov. Blagojevich for his continued support to strengthen the workers in our region to realize our enormous economic potential,” said Amy Murphy, Director of Corporate and Community Services at Joliet Junior College.

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.  The Community and Economic Development division is a multi-dimensional provider of professional and technical training services, which offers comprehensive services, as well as customized training, to meet specific employer needs and company training goals for businesses within the college’s district.  Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association (TRMA), established in 1933, is a not-for-profit organization that serves the training needs of local manufacturers in Grundy and Will counties.  Through their joint efforts, JJC and TRMA, which have a combined membership of more than 900 manufactures, support high end manufacturing employment through training designed to increase both worker productivity and worker safety.

“Investments like these to upgrade the skills of our men and women across the region will go a long way to create a stronger regional economy.  In today’s fast-paced, global economy, we must continue our efforts to advance skills training so our manufacturers stay on the cutting-edge, and I will continue to work with the Governor to make more investments like these,” State Senator A.J.. Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) said.

“Gov. Blagojevich and I understand for our companies to remain competitive that we must continue to build a highly skilled and trained workforce.  This investment will play an important role for the economy in our region, and I thank Joliet Junior College and Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association for their work in this critical area,” said State Representative Jack McGuire (D-Joliet).
“Gov. Blagojevich and I have been committed to enhancing the skills of our workforce and supporting the assets that are the most desirable to business.  The ETIP program continues to serve as an enormous resource for training providers like Joliet Junior College and Three Rivers, which are helping companies in the region increase productivity, reduce costs and enhance competitiveness in today’s ultra-competitive, global economy,” said DCEO Director Lavin. 

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.