Economic development in Illinois depends on the strength of its workforce. No employment journey is without its obstacles. However, intentional workforce initiatives give credence to the notion that a rising tide lifts all boats.
A significant focus for the state has been expanding opportunity under the Job Training and Economic Development (JTED) Program. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the workforce program was created two years ago, focusing on unemployed and underemployed Illinois residents heavily affected by the pandemic.
To no one’s surprise, leading industries — agriculture, manufacturing, information technology, life sciences, transportation and logistics, construction and tourism — experienced the brunt of closures and layoffs at the time. It was a blow that left many residents without a job or options moving forward. Years later, these labor shortages continue to haunt employers.
Through JTED, participants across a variety of industry-focused training programs were able to receive the certifications and credentials needed to secure a new role. The $20 million invested was distributed across 44 community-based organizations (CBO) and colleges across the state and provided training to 6,000 residents looking to re-enter the workforce. In contrast to traditional workforce funding, many JTED programs ran well past a year due to the creation of an Employment Barrier Reduction Fund.
“After discussions with many providers who work with vulnerable populations, one thing they mentioned was the need to have a fund that could be accessed when people faced situations where they could be deterred from either completing training or being able to stay on the job,” says Illinois Office of Employment and Training Deputy Director Julio Rodriguez.
In one example, a Rockford area resident who had completed all training and secured a new job was unsure if he would be able to continue his job due to a situation that hindered his means of transportation. The community provider was able to allocate resources through the fund to handle the car repairs and avoid the loss of a hard-earned role. While JTED works to clear the pathway to new career opportunity, the aspect of mentorship throughout the entirety of an individual’s employment journey isn’t to be overlooked.
Rockford, IL
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A second round of funding introduced an additional $13 million in late 2023, with a goal to build upon the program’s traction and expand its focus. Continuation of JTED brings priority to ensuring the state’s underrepresented populations — primarily immigrants, refugees, justice-involved individuals and rural residents — have access to the resources and expertise needed to land a fulfilling role.
“The other part of JTED is working with employers to be amenable to look at populations that historically they may not have considered. It focuses on populations people forget can be just as viable an employee as anyone else,” said Rodriguez. “And I will tell you, that has been one of our greatest successes.”
Barriers faced by these target groups can be daunting in finding ideal employment opportunity and enriched quality of life. For immigrants and refugees arriving to Illinois and receiving work authorization, JTED providers aim to not only help navigate employment but help in other areas such as finding adequate housing. Rural residents, particularly in southern Illinois, can work with their CBO to navigate issues like transportation that often narrows one’s scope.
“The Rivian plant in Normal is an example,” Rodriguez continues. “That’s a great opportunity for someone [in a rural community], but it’s really getting access to those jobs. That’s part of what programs like JTED try to do.”
Meanwhile, an emphasis for justice-involved individuals is placed on youth and working to provide the soft skills needed to allow them to share their story and move forward past the associated stigma.
“I think people forget we all make mistakes,” said Rodriguez. “Sometimes people need a chance. You can’t correct your life if nobody’s giving you the opportunity to make new choices.”
New Avenues
In March 2024, Governor JB Pritzker announced the JTED Program would expand once again, this time introducing the $5 million Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program, a new partnership among the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness to Prevent and End Homelessness.
Homelessness currently affects over 10,400 individuals throughout the state, more than 50% of which are located in Chicago, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Youth, aged 18 to 24, make up about 12% of that total.
Implementation of this new program puts a strategic focus on creating a direct avenue between these individuals and hiring employers. The goal is to not only provide the services that improve the chance of securing a new role, but to establish financial stability and obtain permanent housing.
The pilot program is set to begin this fall, as applications from the Notice of Funding Opportunity now move into the selection process. For Rodriguez, who has worked in workforce development for over 20 years, this is the first time the State has been very intentional about bringing these two systems together to strengthen the continuum of care infrastructure.
“Part of this pilot is trying to figure out alignment and when is it the right time to work with individuals who are experiencing homelessness,” said Rodriguez. “It may start with getting them stable, and maintaining that stability by providing them opportunities to work.”
“Part of this pilot is trying to figure out alignment and when is it the right time to work with individuals who are experiencing homelessness. It may start with getting them stable, and maintaining that stability by providing them opportunities to work.”
— Julio Rodriguez, Deputy Director, Illinois Office of Employment and Training
Assets such as the state’s selection of over 435 Registered Apprenticeship Programs or On-the-Job Training can be key motivators. The ability to earn a living while gaining new skills at the same time can encourage the consistency employers value, while showcasing the skills of an overlooked population.
“I have found with a lot of employers that once you peel away the stigma of homelessness, they become more empathetic to understanding that circumstances happen,” said Rodriguez.
Working Toward Clean Energy
One sector in particular is set to make waves in term of employment opportunities moving forward. The nationwide focus on EV production has led many manufacturers to set up shop in Illinois and for good reason.
Incentives made available through the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois Act (REV Illinois) have proven vital to securing large-scale projects and securing thousands of new jobs. The most impressive example is Rivian’s May 2024 announcement of a $1.5 billion R2 production facility in Normal, Illinois, creating more than 550 new jobs. In securing REV, the company received a 30-year, $827 million incentive package with a requirement to retain at least 6,000 jobs over this period.
The EV activity isn’t to be concentrated. Lion Electric opened doors to its new Channahon EV plant in July 2023. Months later, Gotion announced it would construct a $2 billion EV battery plant 40 miles southeast in Manteno. Both projects were supported by REV Illinois and carry a combined target of 3,840 new jobs created.
The Biden-Harris administration breathed new life into the dormant Stellantis facility in Belvidere with $334 million in federal funding in July 2024. Having closed its doors in early 2023, the company will now move forward with plans to transition into manufacturing EVs and various components.
While the industry builds its traction, state leadership looks to guarantee employers and talent find seamless connection. This work began in 2021, when Illinois leadership announced $15 million in funding toward two Manufacturing Training Academies (MTA) at Heartland Community College and Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC).
Heartland used its $7.5 million grant to establish a first-of-its-kind Electric Vehicle-Energy Storage MTA in partnership with Rivian. The $17 million facility began its work in February 2024, spanning 45,000 sq. ft. for programs focused on robotics, HVAC, welding, digital media and a State Farm EV lab.
With the aid of SWIC’s $7.5 million grant, the college opened doors to its $20 million, 33,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing education hub in July 2024. As part of the grant funding, SWIC was able to add additive manufacturing, tool and die mold-making and advanced automation/multi-axis computer numerical control certificates to its current offerings.
As industry investment grows, leadership announced a crisp $12 million to construct a new MTA at Kankakee Community College’s Riverfront Campus in Kankakee County. Conveniently located near Gotion’s planned site, this MTA will provide training and education programs for jobs in manufacturing EVs, EV batteries, energy storage systems and more.
“Continued investment into MTAs has allowed the State to provide significant resource dedication toward developing high-tech training facilities that allow us to prepare Illinois residents for cutting-edge jobs within the state’s fastest growing sectors,” according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “By supporting Illinois residents’ access to advanced training facilities, we are supporting the continued growth of our companies in Illinois and, in turn, the continued growth of our economy.”
