Grant Will Provide Training for More Than 100 Employees at Companies throughout the Region
CHICAGO – Continuing to invest in the skills of Illinois’ working men and women, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a $60,000 workforce training grant to the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC), which provides training services as part of its Continuous Improvement Series to upgrade the skills of participating companies within the manufacturing industry. The grant will help train more than 100 employees at numerous companies across the region, including in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago 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 more new jobs across Northern 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 throughout the Rock River Valley stay on the cutting-edge. By 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 at small and mid-sized companies in lean manufacturing. 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.
“To help companies in the Rockford area be globally competitive, we must make targeted investments in our workforce. The RAEDC can identify access to resources so that employers can offer the skills necessary to thrive in today's international economy,” said Janyce Fadden, RAEDC president. “This grant from the State of Illinois, as part of Governor Blagojevich’s Employer Training Investment Program, is absolutely essential. It allows area employers to take advantage of world-class training and services at a significantly reduced cost.
It also makes this high level of resource available to companies that may not have the wherewithal to embark on the road to lean manufacturing at this time. Thus far, we have touched 72 companies and more than 270 employees in the first two years of this program.”
RAEDC, formed in 1981 as a public-private partnership, is the regional economic development leadership organization for the Rockford area. The mission of the Council is to retain and recruit employers to grow quality jobs in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties. RAEDC has established a coalition of providers to implement programs to assist manufacturing companies who employ less than 75 people with the goal of receiving the same level programs that tier 1 and 2 manufacturers have. Last year, RAEDC established the Continuous Improvement Series, which has already provided training to more than 150 participants from 40 companies resulting in positive feedback with immediate improvements and business growth. This grant to RAEDC brings the Governor’s support for the organization to almost $200,000 for job training over the last three years.
“We must continue making these important investments that are going to help manufacturing companies throughout the region remain innovative and competitive. As the world get smaller and smaller, our companies and our hardworking men and women must have the knowledge and the skills to remain a step ahead of their competition. Thanks to Gov Blagojevich’s continued strong support, the Rockford Area Economic Development Council is making that happen every day,” State Representative Chuck Jefferson (D-Rockford) said.
“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 the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, which is 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 nearly 175,000 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.