CHICAGO - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the awarding of 19 workforce training grants totaling $900,000 to companies and organizations across the state as part of Opportunity Returns, the Blagojevich Administration's  regional comprehensive approach to economic development and job creation in Illinois. The grants are being awarded through the Employer Training Investment Program's (ETIP) Small/Mid-sized Company component and will be used to upgrade the skills of more than 8,800 workers statewide. 

 

"One of the first things my administration did was craft the 21^st Century Jobs Training initiative to create a new generation of employer-focused, customized training programs to address the needs of large, medium and small-sized manufacturers in the state," Blagojevich said.  "Keeping workers up to speed with new technologies and business practices is vital to increasing business productivity, reducing costs, improving quality and boosting the competitiveness of not only the state's workforce but of Illinois' companies as well."

 

Eleven companies are receiving the grants through the program's single company option, with eight organizations receiving the grants through the plan's multi-company option.  Nearly 500 companies can access the training funds through the multi-company option.  The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the ETIP grants, which reimburse companies and organizations for up to 50 percent of the costs of training their employees.  

 

"This is the first time these funds have been set aside for companies with under 250 employees," said DCEO Director Jack Lavin. "This initiative, particularly the newly-created Small to Mid-sized Company component, will offer assistance to address the training needs necessary to retain and expand manufacturing companies in the state, especially those businesses that act as suppliers to larger companies."

 

The following single and multi-company option ETIP grants have been released: