NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 18, 2022 Contact: Gabrielle Torina, Principal
815-893-9801 (text) info@richeblackpr.com
Workforce Connection Awarded $836,000 to Help Reemploy Workers
Rockford, IL – The Workforce Connection is pleased to announce its award of the QUEST Disaster Recovery Grant in the amount of $836,000 to help reemploy local workers. Funds from this grant will be used towards the Workforce Connection’s occupational skills training and on-the-job training programs which service Boone, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. 100% of the $836,000 awarded to LWIA 3 by the QUEST Disaster Recovery DWG Grant was funded by the United States Department of Labor.
The State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity was awarded $11,147,910 in total from the U.S. Department of Labor to provide comprehensive employment and training services to assist dislocated workers and other eligible individuals from underserved and historically marginalized communities and groups with reemployment. This funding came as the state recovered from the unprecedented employment and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Services will be administered through the Illinois Workforce System.
According to Gina Caronna, Executive Director at The Workforce Connection, “Funds from this grant will enable us to extend our efforts of assisting businesses and helping individuals find quality jobs. Additionally, the Rockford Region posted the highest year-over-year reduction in unemployment in the Illinois Department of Employment Security September 2022 report. QUEST funds will help The Workforce Connection with its commitment to keeping our region at the forefront of workforce economic recovery in Illinois.”
The Workforce Connection is pleased to have this opportunity to expand services for individuals and employers as our community continues to recover from the pandemic and its effects on the workforce. We encourage any participants interested in training or employment services, or businesses interested in recruiting talent or upskilling their staff, to please connect with us about partnership.
