Workforce Development gets $2 million grant

PEORIA - The U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $2 million grant last week to Peoria's Workforce Development office that's expected to help bridge the area's health care gap.
As a growing medical center, the Peoria area is expected to add more than 4,000 health care jobs over the next six years. The resulting worker shortage, particularly among technicians, medical assistants and nurses, calls for increased training, noted Workforce officials.
The Central Illinois Health Care Community Job Training Grant will provide training for 120 people who will receive an associate's or master's degree through the program or move from being a licensed practical nurse to a registered nurse.

The Peoria award was one of 69 grants announced across the nation as part of the Bush Administration's $125 million community-based job-training program.

"The Peoria grant is designed to improve the ability of community colleges to provide workers with the skills needed to compete in the workplace," said Jennifer Kaplan, a Labor Department spokeswoman speaking from her office in Washington, D.C. "The basic idea here is to provide as much education for the workforce as possible."

Workforce will annouce how individuals may apply for the grant money in the near future.

Spring 2008 Career Fair

Careers 2008!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Northwoods Mall

Workforce Development in conjuncntion with the Journal Star (http://www.pjstar.com/) and Northwoods Mall (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=188) are offering the areas best job fair. The event allows area businesses access to job seekers from across the Central Illinois Region.

Businesses that would like to learn more may contact Ben Brewster, bbrewster@workforcenetwork.com or 309-495-8931.

Participating businesses include:

• 
  Addus Health Care
  Advanced Quality Solutions
  Affina
  B. Moss
  Brickford House & Brickford Cottage
  Build-A-Bear Workshop
  Caterpillar
  CDL Training
  Christopher Banks
  City of Peoria, 911 Dispatcher
  City of Peoria, Fire Department
  City of Peoria, Police
  Comcast
  County of Peoria
  Evonik Goldschmidt Corp
  Excel Foundry
  Express Employment Professions
  Graham Hospital
  Hotel Pere Marquette
  Illinois Air National Guard
  Illinois Welding School
  Job Corps
  Journal Star
  Kay Jewelers
  Lutheran Hillside Village
  Macy's
  Manpower
  Marquette Group
  MetLife
  Midstate College
  Morton Welding Co.
  New Horizons
  OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
  Par-a-dice Hotel & Casino
  Pekin Insurance
  Primerica Financial Services
  Progressive Housing Inc.
  Riverview Health & Care Center
  Trade Home Shoe
  Trillium Staffing
  Trinity Services
  Uftring Autogroup
  Washington Division of URS
  Workforce Network
  Xpac

State of Working Illinois Report

The 2007 State of Working Illinois Report is an honest, comprehensive review and forecast of the Illinois economy. The report was produced by:
1. The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
2. Office for Social Policy Research, Northern Illinois University
3. Center for Government Studies, Northern Illinois Univserity

To review the executive summary and complete report go to:
http://www.stateofworkingillinois.niu.edu/swil/index.html