Molly Sweeney at WCIA reports Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) have awarded more than $2 million to four Pre-Apprenticeship Programs in Central Illinois. The goal of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which began in 2021, is to increase diversity in Apprenticeship Programs, as well as making those programs more accessible. Around the State, Illinois Works helps participants gain admission To Apprenticeship Programs, which then helps participants obtain employment. “The greatest resource we have is the hard-working people of Illinois, and the greatest return on investment we have is training and educating them,” the Governor said. “That’s why workforce development has been a centerpiece of Illinois’ economic agenda for the last six years and why we’re constantly attracting high-quality jobs to Illinois—because we have the skilled workers to fill them.” The program was also designed to increase access to well-paying jobs for populations that have been historically under-represented.

To Directly Access This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Story, Go To: Central Illinois receives $2M for pre-apprenticeship programs