EAST PEORIA, Ill. –Illinois Central College announced on Friday that it has received a $4.8 million grant from Round 2 of the Good Jobs Challenge.
ICC is one of eight funded programs, the only institution to receive funding in both rounds, and the only community college funded through the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
The grant will help continue the work the IT Workforce Accelerator can do for the next two years, creating pathways for workers to be placed in good-paying jobs in the IT field.
In 2022, ICC, along with Bradley University and Eureka College created an IT workforce development ecosystem that helped them secure nearly $15 million in federal funding in the first round of the Good Jobs Challenge.
Together, the schools launched the IT Workforce Accelerator as a collaboration of industry partners, employers, community organizations, chambers of commerce, and economic development agencies focused on meeting employers’ IT workforce needs.
The program enhances the skills of current IT workers, and gives those new to the field an opportunity to earn IT certifications, equipping them to fill the gaps in the local workforce.
Since its inception, the IT Workforce Accelerator has certified nearly 800 people for high-quality IT jobs in programming, networking, healthcare IT, and cybersecurity.
“When individuals earn credentials that meet industry demands, it changes the trajectory of their lives and the lives of their families while growing the local workforce, expanding area businesses, and creating a more vibrant regional economy,” said ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey. “The new Good Jobs Challenge grant will build upon the success of the IT Workforce Accelerator, enabling more individuals to gain access to high-demand, higher-wage jobs that will benefit them and our entire community.”
The initiative is supported by over 100 local businesses and 65 stakeholders, focused on expanding employer-driven training and apprenticeships, as well as creating a self-sustaining, fee-for-service model to ensure the program’s long-term success.
“This funding is a commitment to strengthen Illinois’ IT workforce,” said Senator Dick Durbin. “The Good Jobs Challenge will empower students at Illinois Central College to secure good-paying jobs in technology, bolster our economy, and help Illinois meet the needs of the 21st century.”
