Grant Will Provide Training for More Than 2,150 Employees at 180 Companies

CHICAGO – Continuing to invest in the skills of Illinois’ working men and women, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a $900,000 workforce training grant to the University of Illinois’ Business and Industry Services (BIS) Coalition of Manufacturers, which provides training and consulting services to upgrade skills within the manufacturing industry.  The grant will help train more than 2,150 individuals at 180 member companies across the state, including in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, Winnebago and McHenry counties.  This funding comes as a part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s pro-active, comprehensive economic development strategy designed to spur economic growth and create more jobs across Northeast Illinois and throughout the state.  Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin joined with business representatives at NOW Foods in Bloomingdale to talk about this important program. 

“The manufacturing industry continues to evolve globally, and we must make sure our companies across the state stay on the cutting-edge.  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 workers.  We have a very strong partnership with the Business and Industry Services at the University of Illinois, and, by making these kinds of investments, we are helping companies throughout the state 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.

“At NOW Foods, we have been dedicated to constant innovation and improvement, neither of which could be possible without a top notch workforce.  The training grants from Gov. Blagojevich and DCEO have made a positive difference in the growth and success of our company, and helped us become a leading manufacturer of quality products that contribute to a healthier America,” said Al Powers, President of NOW Foods.

U of I BIS was founded on the purpose of driving a robust economy in Illinois by building a strong manufacturing base.  Over the past 22 years, BIS has provided training and consulting assistance to more than 5,000 companies, directly increasing their profitability and productivity.  U of I-BIS formed the Coalition of Manufacturers in 2002 to help address the challenges of this industry in the global economy, with a focus on innovation and promoting adaptation to this shift.  The Coalition is made up of more than 1,200 Illinois manufacturers who are committed to promoting excellence in manufacturing in the U.S. 

NOW Foods is an award-winning and highly respected, industry-leading manufacturer of high quality vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, natural foods and health related products.  The company has 508 employees in its state-of-the-art GMP rated facility and, over the last two years, the state’s training dollars have been able to help upgrade the skills of 111 workers, through 24 different types of training programs.  NOW products are sold in leading health food stores, and its mission is to provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.  The company also owns and operates the Fruitful Yield natural food and vitamin stores in the Chicagoland area to support its mission.

“In a recent survey, we asked our CEO’s to identify the most serious obstacle to growing and developing innovative new products and services; and the number one problem cited was the lack of highly skilled employees.  My thanks to Gov. Blagojevich for being keenly aware of this need and for being a strong partner to maintaining a strong and thriving manufacturing base in Illinois,” said Mary Rose Hennessy, Executive Director of BIS at the University of Illinois.

“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 U of I-BIS, which is helping statewide companies increase productivity, reduce costs and enhance competitiveness in today’s ultra-competitive, global economy,” said DCEO Director Lavin.  

Since January 2004, Illinois has gained more than 166,000 new jobs, which is best in the Midwest.

The January Illinois unemployment rate is at 4.6 percent, which is down from 6.7 percent in January 2003.  It has remained at or below the national rate for the past ten months, which hasn’t happened in a decade.  It reached its lowest level in recorded history last year.  The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security compiled these statistics.  Site Selection Magazine also ranked the Chicagoland area the top metro region in 2006 for new and expanded business facilities, which is the fifth time in six years the region has gained this honor.  Business Facilities Magazine named Illinois the top state for biotech growth in 2005.   

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.