Workforce Assistance

Illinois Job Training Assistance

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Overview

The Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area can partner with its state and local partner agencies in assisting with the development of a wide variety of training packages. These agencies have worked with hundreds of companies to develop training programs specifically designed to meet the needs of business and industry. Many of these packages included a variety of state and federal programs. 

Programs

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) combines federally-funded job training programs in Illinois into a "workforce development" system where individuals can find a job or train for a new career. Services are provided through the state's one-stop delivery system, the Illinois Employment & Training Center (IETC) network. Individuals in Bloomington-Normal and McLeanCounty that wish to apply for available training programs or obtain other services should report to the IETC office located in Bloomington for assistance.

Three Levels

WIA establishes three basic levels of employment and training services to eligible individuals. All adults, ages 18 or older, are eligible to receive "core services." Additional "intensive services" are available to unemployed individuals who have been unable to obtain jobs through core services and those who are employed but need additional training services to reach self-sufficiency. "Training services" are also available for those who meet intensive services eligibility but are unable to find employment through those services.

Core Services (available to all adults ages 18 years or older):

• Job search and placement assistance (including career counseling)
• Labor market information (which identifies job vacancies; skills needed for in-demand jobs; and local, regional, and national employment trends)
• Initial assessment of skills and needs
• Information about and costs for local training providers
• Follow-up services to help customers keep their jobs once they are placed

Intensive Services (available to eligible adults who have been unable to find work through core services or need additional training to reach self-sufficiency):

• Comprehensive assessments
• Development of individual employment plans
• Group and individual counseling
• Case management
• Short-term prevocational services
• Out-of-area job search assistance or relocation assistance
• Internships and literacy activities

Training Services (for those who have received "intensive services" but are still unable to find employment): 

• Occupational skills training
• On-the-job training
• Cooperative education programs and private sector training programs
• Job readiness training
• Adult education and literacy activities
• Customized employer training

Dislocated Worker and Youth Services

To be eligible for the dislocated worker program, a person must have received a layoff notice or have been laid off due to a company closure or mass layoff. Workers may also be eligible if they are currently unemployed and are unlikely to return to their prior occupation due to economic conditions in that industry. 

To be eligible for the youth program, a person must be between the ages of 14 and 21, have low income and have a substantial barrier to employment such as: deficient in basic literacy skills, school dropout, homeless, a runaway or a foster child, pregnant or parenting, an offender or an individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment.

Services include:

• Tutoring, mentoring, study skills training and instruction leading to completion of secondary school
• Alternative school services
• Paid and unpaid work experience (such as internships and job shadowing)
• Occupational skills training
• Leadership development
• Supportive services
• Guidance counseling
• Follow-up services

Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP)

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The Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) helps keep Illinois workers’ skills in pace with new technologies and business practices. ETIP grants can reimburse Illinois companies for up to 50 percent of the cost of training their employees. Grants may be awarded to individual businesses, to original equipment manufacturers sponsoring multi-company training for employees of their Illinois supplier companies and to intermediary organizations operating multi-company training projects. 

Employer Training Investment Program / Large Company Component (ETIP/LCC)

There are two ways large Illinois companies (with 250 or more full-time employees) can access state training funds available through the ETIP/LCC. Individual employers may apply for grant funds to assist with training their employees. The multi-company training component allows companies with common employee training needs to join together in meeting these common needs and applying for training funds.

Single Company Training Projects

Individual companies (with 250 or more full-time employees) undertaking eligible training activities may apply for an ETIP/LCC grant. Frequently, these companies are undertaking a major retention, expansion or location project in the state. Other situations which may contribute to an individual company applying for a training grant include a major capital investment in new equipment or technology(ies) or specialized or customized training needs not shared with other companies in the area. 

Multi-Company Training Projects

Companies that have identified common training needs are encouraged to apply for ETIP/LCC grant funds under the program's multi-company training component. An intermediary organization may apply for grant funds on behalf of the companies participating in the project. This organization conducts or sponsors the employee training programs. The intermediary organization coordinates all grant administrative and training evaluation reporting functions on behalf of the companies in the project. 

Eligible applicants include business and industry associations, institutions of higher education, large manufacturers for supplier network companies, labor organizations and strategic business partnerships.

Contact Information

Employer Training Investment Program / Large Company Component
620 East Adams Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL  62701
Tel: (217) 785-6284   Fax: (217) 558-6971

rick_rogers@commerce.state.il.us

Incumbent Worker Training Program

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The Incumbent Worker Training Program provides funds for targeted employers to provide training to their current employees.

The targeted industries in our region are manufacturers and health care providers. Additional requirements are:

1. Been in operation in the region for at least four months
2. Have at least five full-time employees
3. Demonstrate financial viability
4. Provide a match toward requested funding

The match may be either in-kind or cash. The required match is based on the size of the employer - 10 percent for 50 or fewer employees, 25 percent for 51 to 99 and 40 percent for 100 or more employees.

Requested training must meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Training employees in skills necessary to enable the company to establish, maintain or expand into new markets
2. Are introducing more efficient technologies or continuous improvement systems
3. Providing additional training to employees who will be threatened with layoff
4. Are providing training that will result in benefits to employees such as enhanced employability, job upgrades, increased wages and/or increased job security
5. Are providing job-linked training in response to new or changing technologies, processes, product lines, machinery or equipment
6. Are providing training related to regulatory compliance issues mandated for the workplace

Training may be provided on-site or off-site. It may be conducted by in-house staff or outside staff. Employees who are paid while receiving training may count the wages and fringe benefits as part of the match requirement. Most costs associated with providing the training can be covered by the program.

Contact Information

Warren Cheatham
Career Link
207 E. Hamilton Rd.
Bloomington, IL 61704
Tel: (309) 827-6237 ext. 220
wcheatham@careerlink16.com