In Central Illinois, $8.2 million will allow 5 businesses and organizations to train 300 new workers and retrain another 38,000. Of that number, 37,000 will receive assistance through programs offered by the Illinois Manufacturer's Association and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

"These grants will ensure that Illinois has the well-trained workforce that employers look for when selecting a new plant or facility location," Ryan said. "Because of the ITP program we are able to secure good paying jobs for thousands of Illinois citizens."

Nestle USA, Incorporated based in Bloomington will receive $290,000 from the program to upgrade the skills of 520 employees. The company had been considering moving to another area, but funds from the ITP program helped convince the firm to remain at its present location.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) administers the Industrial Training Program grants on a competitive basis.

"As we talk to companies interested in doing business in Illinois, we constantly hear that a skilled workforce is one of the biggest issues affecting the site selection process," said DCCA Director Pam McDonough. "Investing this money now in our workers will pay large dividends in the future, as more companies, and in particular hi-tech companies, decide to invest in the people of Illinois."

A list of all ITP grant recipients is attached.

ITP GRANTS

3Com Corporation  $400,000
Rolling Meadows/Cook

The DoAll Companies  $77,924
DesPlaines/Cook

Jetstream Systems, Inc. (dba Fleetwood, Inc.)  $140,000
Romeoville/Will

Silver Line Building Products Corporation  $137,439
Lansing/Cook

Caterpillar Agriculture Products, Inc.  $121,500
DeKalb/DeKalb

Pepperidge Farms, Inc.  $174,014
Downers Grove/DuPage

Quanex Corporation (dba, Nichols Aluminum Lincolnshire)  $22,569
Lincolnshire/Lake

Case Corporation               $199,938
East Moline/Rock Island 

CST, Inc.               $50,703
Mt. Carmel/Wabash

Dutch Farms, Inc.                      $16,511
Chicago/Cook

Illinois Manufacturers' Association               $4,900,000
Springfield/Sangamon

Medela, Inc.  $102,839
McHenry/McHenry

The Management Institute  $149,950
Broadview/Cook

Republic Windows & Doors, Inc.  $237,000
Chicago/Cook

United Distillers & Vintners  $93,458
Plainfield/Will

Concrete Technology, Inc.  $51,234
Paxton/Ford

Sears, Roebuck & Company  $254,567
Hoffman Estates/Cook

Budget Group International  $245,750
Lisle/DuPage

Richardson Electronics, Ltd.  $258,861
LaFox/Kane

R.G. Ray Corporation  $137,457
Buffalo Grove/Lake                   

Champion Laboratories, Inc  $111,859
Albion/Edwards               

Brach's Confections Inc.  $45,079
Chicago/Cook

Hershey Chocolate & Confectionery Co.  $117,596   
Robinson/Crawford

Kraft General Foods - Chicago Plant  $85,291
Chicago/Cook

McWhorter Technologies, Inc.  $95,868
Carpentersville/Kane

North Business & Industrial Council (NORBIC)  $365,146
Chicago/Cook

Progressive Manufacturing Corporation  $116,061          
Wheeling/Cook

Sauer-Sundstrand Company - LaSalle Plant  $71,365
LaSalle/LaSalle

Arlington International Racecourse  $55,862
Arlington Heights/Cook

Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.  $81,882
Decatur/Macon

Cherry Corporation  $150,000
Waukegan/Lake

Danville Metal Stamping Co., Inc.                  $226,500
Danville/Vermilion

Ensign Bickford Company  $100,670
Wolf Lake/Union

Information Resources, Inc.  $227,417
Wood Dale/Cook & DuPage

Ivex Packaging Corp.  $93,937
Grant Park/Kankakee

Lafarge Corp.   $69,141
Grand Chain/Massac

MediChem Research, Inc.  $50,000
Des Plaines/Cook & Will

Mueller Company   $129,004
Decatur/Macon

NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc.  $155,544
Danville/Vermilion

Nestle USA, Inc.  $291,481
Bloomington/McLean

Newell Window Furnishings, Inc.  $175,000
Freeport/Stephenson

Snap-On Tools Manufacturing Co.  $62,248
Mt. Carmel/Wabash

Sweetheart Holdings, Inc.  $91,194
Chicago/Cook

Wal-Mart Distribution Center #6059  $104,400
Olney/Richland

Fort Dearborn Company                                  $98,490
Niles & Elk Grove Village/Cook

Comark, Inc.                          $234,856
Bloomingdale/DuPage  

North American Vanlines (Allied Worldwide)   $420,100
Naperville/DuPage

Simonton Windows                                 $14,269
Paris/Edgar

Illinois Chamber of Commerce           $2,076,674
Springfield/Sangamon (26 companies) 

National Steel Corporation  $193,200
Granite City/Madison   

MCI WorldCom Network Services, Inc.   $200,000    
Downers Grove/DuPage      

Lucent Technologies, Inc.   $250,000
Naperville and Lisle/DuPage 

Elgiloy Specialty Metals   $100,000
Hampshire/Kane                               

Elkay Manufacturing Company   $48,320
Oak Brook/DuPage        

Aventis Behring LLC    $566,964
Bradley/Kankakee                               

Navistar dba Int'l Truck & Engine                     $854,656
Melrose Park/Cook 

Snap-on Credit LLC                                 $38,374
Gurnee/Lake   

Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois                 $217,002
Chicago/Cook

TOTAL           $16,156,564