Program Profiles
From WIRE
Workforce development services provide individuals with the skills and supports needed to enter and retain employment, as well as advance along a career path.
The following is a list of some key programs that provide these services in Chicago and Illinois. For each program, the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC) has created a one-page, Illinois-specific profile highlighting each program's purpose, history, funding structure, administrative hierarchy, target population, eligibility requirements, and more.
For more specific information, including funding allocations, outcomes data, and participant figures, visit the Workforce Development Data Page.
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Publicly-Funded Programs
Federal Programs
Workforce Investment Act - Title I
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was passed in 1998, replacing the Job Training Partnership Act as the largest single source of federal funding for workforce development. Title I of WIA provides universal access to employment and training services through a network of one-stop workforce centers administered at the state and local levels.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Established in 1974, CDBG is one of the longest running programs under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It provides communities with resources to address a wide range of community development needs related to decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities. Chicago, as well as some other Illinois communities, utilize a portion of their CDBG funds to provide workforce development services.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP E&T)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly Food Stamps, is the main safety net of food and nutrition benefits for low-income individuals. It includes a component known as Employment and Training (E&T) designed to help individuals find employment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandates and funds the program at the Federal level, and the Department of Human Services administers it in Illinois.
State Programs
Job Training and Economic Development (JTED)
Illinois' Job Training and Economic Development (JTED) grant program was created in 1998. JTED provides targeted training for low-skilled workers. The funding is relatively flexible, which allows for program customization. JTED is administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and funded by WIA Discretionary dollars and the state general revenue fund.
Employment Opportunities Grant Program (EOGP)
The Employment Opportunities Grant Program (EOGP) was originally authorized in 2006 with the goal of increasing the number of historically underrepresented populations who enroll in and complete building trades apprenticeship programs and attain journey-level status in trade unions. It is administered by the DCEO and funded through the state general revenue fund.
Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP)
The Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) is designed to assist Illinois employers in providing training to full-time employees, thus increasing capacity, building a stronger workforce, and creating a more competitive business climate in Illinois. ETIP is administered by the DCEO and funded through the state general revenue fund.
Additional Employment Strategies
These are successful strategies garnering attention in the public policy discussions surrounding employment for low-skilled, low-income individuals. However, public funding streams have yet to be firmly established for these strategies.
Bridge Programs
Bridge programs prepare adults with limited academic or limited English skills to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and training that leads to career-path employment in skilled jobs. While there is not a dedicated source for bridge funding, Illinois Community College Board and DCEO are expanding these programs within their exisiting workforce and education programs.
Transitional Jobs Programs
Transitional Jobs (TJ) programs are employment strategies that help people overcome employment barriers and transition into work through subsidized, wage-paid, short-term employment that combines work experience, skill development, and supportive services. These programs have had dedicated funding from the U.S. Department of Labor in the past, but Congress eliminated federal funding for TJ in spring 2011.
