Central Economic Development Region 1
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act – 2020 Regional Plan
Central Economic Development Region 1
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act – 2020 Regional Plan
Central Economic Development Region 1 – WIOA Regional Plan 2/14/2020
Executive Summary…………………………………………………………. | 1 | ||
Chapter | 1: | Economic and Workforce Analysis – Regional Component………………... | 4 |
Chapter | 2: | Integration of Strategies and Services – Regional Component……………... | 23 |
Chapter | 3: | Vision, Goals and Strategies – Regional Component……………………….. | 35 |
Attachment 1: Performance Goals…………………………………………... | 48 |
The Workforce Boards of Local Areas 19, 20 and 21 in association with our partner agencies have produced this plan for the Central Economic Development Region's (CEDR – 1). The Plan was developed in accordance with the state and local area plans, in accordance with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) regulations, and the State of Illinois Regional and Local Planning Guide, updated October 2019. Our Boards are committed to creating workforce development strategies that promote the economic well-being of both employers and workers in the region. This plan formalizes the regional process for the Central Region to explore innovative means to better meet the needs of our customers and meet the educational, economic development and workforce development needs of the region.
This Plan represents the regional response to the State of Illinois workforce development vision, which is to “Foster a Statewide workforce development system that supports the needs of individuals and businesses to ensure Illinois has a skilled workforce to effectively compete in the global economy.” This includes our commitment to:
Maintaining a Demand-Driven Orientation to our planning work;
Developing and maintaining Strong Partnerships with Business;
Building Pathways to Careers of Today and Tomorrow;
Engaging in Cross-agency Collaboration and Connections among each of the partners;
Promoting Integrated Service Delivery;
Ensuring Equitable Access and Opportunity for all Populations;
Using Clear Metrics for Progress and Success; and
Maintaining a Focus on Continuous Improvement and Innovation.
The Regional Plan also supports the Action Agenda for Workforce Development and Job Creation, as outlined in the Governor’s Executive Order 3. To advance this Action Agenda, CEDR will:
Unite workforce development partners around regional clusters strategies by identifying high-impact regional clusters and associated in-demand occupations and implementing a coordinated workforce development strategy around regional clusters.
Prepare Illinois workers for a career, not just their next job by increasing apprenticeship opportunities, addressing barriers to successful training and employment, and establishing and supporting equity goals and aligning with Perkins equity goals.
Connect job seekers with employers by shortening time from credential to employment and integrating workforce services across program providers for one-stop customers.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act envisions a workforce system that better aligns workforce, education and economic development partners. The regional workforce efforts of Springfield, Decatur, Lincoln and Jacksonville as well as the rural communities in Cass, Christian, Greene, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Scott and Shelby will benefit greatly from a unified workforce team that can act quickly to address workforce needs of both employers and job seekers.
WIOA emphasizes training that leads to credentials in targeted growth sectors of the economy. It encourages service coordination among education and workforce partner agencies and the creation and utilization of career pathways in the targeted sectors. The legislation is designed to help workers, including those with barriers, to access services that lead to employment in demand occupations. The Region’s plan is based on coordination of workforce, education and economic development efforts that will meet the needs of both employers and job seekers in our area.
The Central Illinois Economic Development Regional Plan has been developed in accordance with WIOA and State of Illinois Regional Planning guidelines. The CEDR will undertake the processes and strategies outlined in this plan over the next four years.
This Regional portion of the Plan includes the establishment of regional service strategies, including use of cooperative service delivery agreements; the development and implementation of sector initiatives for in-demand industry sectors; the collection and analysis of regional labor market data; the coordination of administrative cost arrangements; the coordination of transportation and other supportive services; the coordination of services with regional economic development services and providers; and the process for negotiation of local levels of performance for performance accountability measures.
This Plan also includes the Local Plan components for LWIAs 19, 20 and 21. The local planning strategies include direct investments in economic, education and workforce training programs so that individuals have the skills to compete in the job market and that employers have a ready supply of skilled workers; applying job-driven strategies in the one-stop system; enable economic, education and workforce partners to build a skilled workforce through innovation in, and alignment of, employment, training and education programs.
In accordance with the Governor’s vision for the State Workforce System, the CEDR’s regional planning team included representatives from the following core and required partners:
Capital Area Career Center
City of Decatur
City of Litchfield
Community Action Programs of Central Illinois
Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corporation
Department of Aging – Senior Community Service Employment Program
Department of Corrections – Second Chance Act
Department of Employment Security
Department of Human Services – Division of Family and Community Service
Department of Human Services – Division of Rehabilitation
Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center
Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance
Lawrence Adult Education Center
Lincoln Land Community College
Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corp.
Regional Office of Career & Technical Education
Richland Community College
Springfield Public Schools District 186
Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance
West Central Development Council
Workforce Investment Solutions of Macon and DeWitt
Economic conditions including existing and emerging in-demand industry sectors and occupations (§ 679.560(a)(1)(i));
Economic conditions including existing and emerging in-demand industry sectors and occupations (§ 679.560(a)(1)(i));
The Central Region team scheduled three meetings to discuss the data, targeted industries, clusters, and in-demand occupations. Data was presented to the partners at the first regional meeting by a representative from Illinois Department of Employment Security. After reviewing the data, along with group discussion, team members agreed that sector information presented for Healthcare and Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Professional and Business Services were consistent with data available from various studies, including knowledge and experience in working with employers in the region. These industries are recognized as the three first tier targeted industries in our Region.
The table below lists these first-tier targeted industries and their associated high-impact industry clusters, as well as their associated in-demand occupations in the region. The industries, clusters and occupations were derived based on customized data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The data in the table lists those industries and occupations with the highest number of annual job openings in the Region. There are other industry clusters and occupations that may be filled through the Region’s focus on the targeted industry.
Targeted | |
Industries | Occupations |
Healthcare and Social Assistance
Ambulatory Health Care Services
Hospitals
Social Assistance
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
Registered Nurse
Licensed Practical Nurse
Nursing Assistant
Personal Care Aides
Home Health Aides
Medical Assistant
Manufacturing
Food Manufacturing
Machine Manufacturing
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Machinists
Welders
Mechanical Engineers
Targeted | |
Industries | Occupations |
Professional and Business Services
Professional, Scientific & Tech Services
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Administrative and Support Services
Accountant and Auditors
Office Clerks
Operations Managers
Customer Service Representatives
Janitors and Housekeepers
Laborers/Freight/Stock & Material Movers
As a Region, the partners recognize that the Transportation/Warehousing, Construction, Leisure and Hospitality, and Information Technology are either leading or emerging industry sectors in Economic Development Region 1. Although Information Technology is not a stand-alone sector in the regional economy, occupations requiring it are established in companies from all sectors. Because of these industries high growth projections, we are identifying these as Tier 2 targets of opportunity for the Region.
The majority of in-demand jobs in these top tier industries are entry-level, require a minimum of a high school diploma and are lower wage career areas; however, for youth entering the
workforce, these jobs provide experience to begin building a work history, earning a standard living wage and are first steps in a career pathway.
The industries with favorable location quotients are: Manufacturing, Agriculture Production, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Utilities, and Healthcare and Social Assistance. Occupations within the region’s targeted industries that have a high location quotient are (Manufacturing) Machinists, Packaging/Filling Machine Operators, First Line Supervisors, Production and Operating Workers; and (Healthcare) Registered Nurses, Personal Care Aides and Nursing Assistants.
The industries with favorable demand projections are: Leisure and Hospitality, Healthcare and Social Assistance, Construction, Professional and Business Services and Wholesale Trade.
Occupations related to the targeted industries are (Business and Professional Services) Janitors/Housekeepers, Customer Service Representatives, Office Clerks, Laborers/Freight Stock and Material movers; (Healthcare) Registered Nurses, Personal Care Aides and Nursing Assistants.
The above graph, sorted by local workforce area, shows the occupations that have favorable demand projections based on replacements. Some occupations are listed more than once because that is a position in the respective LWA that will have a high demand. Top occupations with high demand are sales and related occupations, office and administrative support occupations, food prep and service occupations, and retail service workers.
According to the data provided by Illinois Department of Employment Security, EDR 1 has no maturing industries. The last regional plan recognized manufacturing and finance as maturing industries, however, manufacturing is now a leading industry and finance is an emerging industry.
Occupations associated with Emerging Industries | |
Industry | Occupations |
Construction | |
Transportation & Warehousing | |
Financial Activities | |
Professional and Other Business Services | |
Carpenters
Laborers
Construction Managers
First Line Supervisors
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor Trailer
Laborers/Freight/Stock & Material Movers
Accountants/Auditors
Claims Adjustors
Insurance Carriers
Janitors/Housekeepers
Customer Service Representatives
Office Clerks, General
Office Clerks
Freight Stock and Material Movers
Occupations associated with Emerging Industries | |
Industry | Occupations |
Leisure and Hospitality | |
Food Prep
Serving
Waiter/Waitresses
Cooks
Numerous sources to look at supply and demand data. Primarily we used Illinois Department of Employment Security data. Secondly, we used data from Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance software, Jobs EQ. Below is a graph that shows 2-digit SOC code occupation gaps. The data shows that there will be shortages in Healthcare and Social Assistance, Professional and Business Services, Manufacturing, Construction, and Information Technology. Many of the Tier 1 and 2 industries of focus for EDR 1 are mentioned as having an occupation gap over the next 10 years.
The above graph shows the emerging and existing occupational gaps over the next 10 years for the industries being targeted. Examining the data shows that all of the potential gaps fall into the sectors of focus for the economic development region, with the exception of Police and Sheriff Patrol Officers. Therefore, the focus in the region will be on developing career pathways to serve these industries and ensuring the employment needs of the regional employers are met.
The above graph shows the emerging and existing occupational gaps over the next 10 years for the industries being targeted. Again, the majority of the occupations that will have a shortage in the next 10 years are within the industries of focus for EDR 1. However, there are a few occupations that are not and the regional partners will look to support occupations in these areas.
The Targeted Career Pathway Clusters are:
Therapeutic Services: Occupations focused primarily on changing the health status of patients over time through direct care, treatment, counseling, or health education information.
Diagnostic Services: Occupations related to the tests and evaluations that aid in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries or other physical conditions.
Health Informatics: Workers involved in all aspects of managing health care agencies, patient data and information, financial information, and computer applications related to health care processes and procedures. Workers usually have limited interaction with patients.
Production: Occupations related to the making or assembling of electronic parts, constructing or assembling modular housing, performing welding jobs, or printing various materials.
Logistics and Inventory Control: Occupations related to the maintenance and transportation of raw materials and finished parts inventories. Includes moving raw materials to the production line, unloading trucks with raw materials, wrapping pallets of finished products for shipment, and communicating with traffic managers.
General Management: Occupations that plan, organize, direct, and evaluate all or part of a business organization through the allocation and use of financial, human, and material resources. Administrative Support: Occupations that facilitate business operations through a variety of administrative and clerical duties including information and communication management, data processing and collection, and project tracking.
Operations Management: Workers who focus on planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling the resources needed to produce or provide a business' goods and/or services. Includes quality control, scheduling, procurement, and warehousing.
(Note: Career Pathway Definitions are from careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/clusterPathways)
Essential skills continue to be identified by employers as a key barrier to individuals entering employment. Not only do employers want individuals with specific occupational skills, they want individuals with the foundational workplace skills as well. Through conversations and business visits with employers, feedback showed that employers considered the following qualifications as essential to being hired:
Reliability
Communication (active listening and learning, speaking)
Personal Responsibility
Critical thinking and judgement/decision making
Attendance/punctuality
In our Region, as in the rest of the State, the gap in skills between what a potential employee possesses and what an employer needs is a complex issue. We hear frequently that there are not enough of the right graduates for in-demand jobs. Many of the job seekers in our region have lost their jobs from occupations that are declining. To meet the needs of employers for skilled workers in healthcare, professional and business services, and manufacturing, these individuals need training. This is the case for low-income adults and youth as well.
The table below shows the educational attainment of the population in the Central Region., However, none of these percentages have had much change since the last regional plan, which leads us to presume educational attainment in the region is stagnant. Due to this trend, the regions’ partners plan to increase the number of individuals who possess the skills required by employers through sector and career pathway initiatives specifically focusing on the targeted industries and through apprenticeships.
Nearly 9% lower than state average for bachelor’s degree.
EDR 1 has 35% of the population with a high school diploma or equivalent, which is higher than the state average.
23% of the population with some college, again higher than the state average.
The population in EDR 1 is slowly decreasing. In 2015 there were 544,181 people living in the region. In 2018, the population had dropped by over 10,000 people to 533,795. Additionally, the median age in Illinois has been steadily increasing. The data shows this is the trend for EDR 1 as well. The largest population numbers are from individuals ages 50-59. There are 73,578 individuals between those ages in EDR 1, which shows 13.78% of the population will be retiring within the next 10 years.
This demographic shift will continue into the future and will create continued downward pressure on labor supply for the entire region. Even though unemployment is low for the region, the aging population is a key contributor to the expected strong demand for healthcare and manufacturing workers.
In comparison to the state, our poverty levels are much greater. A focus of the regional partners is going to be how we can communicate social services and those options more effectively to our clients. Additionally, by making sure that regional transportation and childcare information is
readily accessible on our websites and in our centers, we hope to assist more individuals with those needs. Addressing the aforementioned needs will assist individuals wanting to reenter the workforce.
County | 2017 Percent Below Poverty | 2014 Percent Below Poverty | Change |
Cass County, Illinois | 13.1 | 13.4 | -0.3 |
Christian County, Illinois | 12.8 | 14.8 | -2 |
Greene County, Illinois | 17.9 | 15.4 | 2.5 |
Logan County, Illinois | 9.2 | 12.9 | -3.7 |
Macon County, Illinois | 16.6 | 18.1 | -1.5 |
Macoupin County, Illinois | 13.3 | 12.5 | 0.8 |
Menard County, Illinois | 11.4 | 9.7 | 1.7 |
Montgomery County, Illinois | 15.6 | 14.6 | 1 |
Morgan County, Illinois | 14.9 | 14.4 | 0.5 |
Sangamon County, Illinois | 15.6 | 14.9 | 0.7 |
Scott County, Illinois | 14.9 | 13.9 | 1 |
Shelby County, Illinois | 12.1 | 11.5 | 0.6 |
Note: Percent below poverty level; Estimate; Population for whom poverty status is determined | |||
7.05% of the population has a disability compared to the state average of 11%.
The region has a large Veteran population of 13.18% compared to State average of 5%.
The majority of the population in EDR 1 speaks English at home (96.2%) in comparison to the state percentage of 23.5%.
The region is committed to expanding access for targeted populations, especially the long- term unemployed, persons with a disability, out-of-school youth, and veterans. Regionally, the partners will work to establish partnerships and collaborate with community
organizations in order to serve job seeker customers to access the services that they need in order to be able to acquire the job skills that will lead to employment.
The Central Region will continue to share data regionally and will look for the commonalities between the three LWIA’s. Once a year, the Central Region will convene a “sector-led” meeting, focusing on the three main industries, Healthcare/Social Services, Manufacturing and Professional/Business Services to discuss issues and opportunities within the region.
Included in the meetings will be businesses from the specific sector, Economic Development, Chambers of Commerce, and all core partners within WIOA. Economic development will facilitate the meetings.
A different sector will be selected each year. Discussions will include, in-demand occupations within the specific cluster, barriers the employers and employees face, and what the future looks like for the workforce within the specific sector. WIB members from the three boards will be included in the meetings.
The purpose of the meetings will be to help build a stronger partnership within the sectors, and to help partners in the Central Region to identify areas of need, by aligning proper services to customers to help develop a talent pipeline.
It is the Region’s intent to build upon the previous sector partnerships discussed in the last plan. These provide the region with a good foundation to expand upon. The goal for the region’s Next Generation partnerships is to have one top tier industry meet annually to address all issues and concerns for the region. These events will encompass employers, Chambers of Commerce, and Economic Development organizations, and will discuss all issues that the companies are experiencing, including workforce concerns. At the end of the 2020 regional plan we will have met with all three top tier industries and will have outcomes that show how we addressed their workforce matters.
Sector-based partnerships in the region include:
IMEC – Manufacturing: IMEC was established in 1996 to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Illinois' small and mid-sized manufacturing firms.
Midwest Inland Port – Manufacturing/Logistics and Transportation: “Midwest Inland Port is a multi-modal hub located in Decatur, Illinois that delivers both domestic and international flexibility for companies through a well-positioned transportation corridor, connecting the Midwest to the East, West and Gulf Coasts of North America”.
Midwest Trucking Association – Logistics and Transportation: Mid-West Truckers Association represents and services over 3,000 members in 15 states. Members are comprised of trucking companies and companies that operate trucks as part of their business.
BJC Collaborative – Healthcare: BJC HealthCare of St. Louis, CoxHealth of Springfield, Mo., Memorial Health System of Springfield, Ill., and Saint Luke’s Health System of Kansas City, Mo., partnered together in October 2012 to create The BJC Collaborative to achieve even higher quality care for the patients served by the independent not-for-profit health care organizations.
Blessing Health System in Quincy, Ill., joined the Collaborative in May 2013 and Southern Illinois Healthcare in Carbondale, Ill., in September 2013. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System of Mattoon, Ill. joined in November 2015 and Decatur Memorial Hospital joined in February 2016. International Warehouse Logistics Association – Logistics and Warehousing: IWLA members include companies that provide many services: warehousing; fulfillment; reverse logistics; transportation; freight-forwarding and brokerage services; inventory and supply chain management; and a broad range of manufacturing and value-added services.
In addition, the Central Region will continue to explore partnerships, utilizing each LWIA’s Business Services Team, and reporting out regionally when a new partnership is formed.
Each LWIA has a community college that supports sector strategies. These community colleges are in constant contact with businesses to help them align curriculum and provide quality, affordable education and training to area residents. In addition, these strategies are discussed at the quarterly regional partner meetings with the community colleges.
Neutral conveners in the Central Region that have the capacity to help establish sector partnerships include:
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center – IMEC provides assistance to Illinois’ small and mid-sized manufactures in identifying and solving performance gaps and building a culture that supports sustained improvements.
Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance - is a public-private sector partnership dedicated to advancing economic development efforts in Springfield and Sangamon County. Led by a volunteered, diverse and industry-driven board of directors, the mission is to pursue economic prosperity and growth for Sangamon County and the City of Springfield.
The Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County – The EDC’s primary role is to provide support and a point of contact for prospective area employers that are non-retail in nature as well as an advocate for the establishment of their presence
in the community. Additionally, they administer Illinois Enterprise Zone benefits as they apply.
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce- The chamber advocates on behalf of members for business-friendly legislation and offers programs, services, and networking opportunities to help make local business thrive and grow.
Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce - The chamber advocates on behalf of members for business-friendly legislation and offers programs, services, and networking opportunities to help make local business thrive and grow.
Local Workforce Boards in our Region – these business led boards are ideally situated to convene employers for development of Sector Initiatives. Members come from the industries that are being targeted in the Region.
Any business that is planning to expand could be considered a neutral convener. Their role could be determining skills levels for various occupations, assisting with developing training/curriculum that would train skilled workers, participating on advisory councils or workforce boards and providing equipment or skill training at their business location.
Sector associations could be neutral conveners including – Illinois Manufacturing Association, Illinois Medical Association, Illinois Hospital Association, Midwest Truckers, etc.
As part of the December 2019 regional planning meetings, the Partners identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) pertaining to workforce development in the region. The results of this analysis are shown in the Table below.
SWOT Analysis for Central Region – Workforce Development | ||
Internal Origin | Strengths: | Weaknesses: |
External Origin | Opportunities: | Threats: |
Educational services
Training Opportunities
Community Partners
Large number of small employers
Diverse economic make-up
Improved Economic Conditions
Skills shortage
Working in Silos
Communicating services
Lack of awareness of services to individuals
Capacity to train
Lack of customer technology skills
Some growing Industries in our area (Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business and Professional Service, etc.)
New/emerging education/career pathways
Regional collaboration
Service Integration Plans
Economy - More Jobs Available
Incorporation of Essential Skills into each program.
Increase in Career and Technical Education
Loss of large employers
Economic downturn
Lack of CTE Teachers and facilities
Funding – lack of from both state and other sources
Loss of waiver for Able-Bodied Adults under SNAP program
Illinoisans fleeing to other states
Labor Force Decline
Workforce culture changes
Development of Individual Employment Plan
Job Search Assistance
Job Placement Service
Career Exploration
Assessment
Basic Skills instruction
ESL
HSE – Adult Secondary Education
Bridge Programs
Occupational Training
Work Based Learning – Work Experience / On-The-Job Training/Apprenticeships
Supportive Services – Childcare / Transportation / Tools / Supplies
Labor Market Information
On-Line Opportunities - Illinois workNet, Illinois Job Link, Career Information System
Unemployment Benefits
Cash Assistance / SNAP
Recruitment, Assessment, Selection Process
Proven experience with NEG Accelerated Short Term MFG, TDL and CDL Training
Strong ties to the community agencies
Established relationships/partnerships with employers
Established relationships with SHRM, EDC
Aligning efforts to demand industries, occupations and skills
Previous success with Regional collaboration
Consistently meet/exceed performance goals (entered employment, retention, credential attainment)
manufacturing and business and professional services. These opportunities fall in-line with State initiatives such as service integration, regional collaboration under next generation sector partnerships and new and emerging career pathways.
By taking a holistic approach and collaboration with core partners, the Region will be able to better serve at risk populations. These WIOA partners include Titles I, II, III and IV, ICCB – Perkins CTE, IDES, Aging, Corrections, and Community Action Agencies.
In furtherance of WIOA requirements, Priority of Service in the Region include:
Veterans and eligible spouses in the following order or priority:
First, to veterans and eligible spouses (who also are included in the groups given statutory priority for WIOA adult formula funds). This means that veterans and eligible spouses who also are recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals*, or individuals who are basic skills deficient would receive first priority for services provided with WIOA adult formula funds.
Second, to non-covered persons (individuals who are not veterans or eligible spouses) who are included in the groups given priority for WIOA adult formula funds.
Third, to veterans and eligible spouses who are not included in WIOA’s priority groups.
Fourth, to any other populations identified by the Governor or Local Workforce Development Board for priority.
Last, to non-covered persons outside the groups given priority under WIOA.
Recipients of Public Assistance such as those participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI). And/or any other State or local income-based public assistance.
Other Low-Income Individuals, including those who:
Are in a family with total family income that does not exceed the higher of—(I) the poverty line; or (II) 70 percent of the lower living standard income level;
is a homeless individual (as defined in section 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994), or a homeless child or youth (as defined under section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act);
receives or is eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act;
is a foster child on behalf of whom State or local government payments are made; or
is an individual with a disability whose own income meets the income requirement, but who is a member of a family whose income does not meet this requirement
Individuals who are basic skills deficient such as those who:
are a youth with English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below the 8th grade level on a generally accepted standardized test; or
are a youth or adult, that is unable to compute or solve problems, or read, write, or speak English, at a level necessary to function on the job, in the individual’s family, or in society.
Current Initiatives in the Region include:
LWIA 19 received funding for a Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker grant to address the Opioid epidemic. This grant will reach out to individuals affected by the Opioid crisis. LWIA 19 has partnered with Crossing Healthcare who has recently opened a recovery center specifically for people with addictions. Patients who complete the detox program will have the opportunity to receive education and employment training.
The individuals who are eligible for WIOA services will have access to work experiences, on-the-job training with a pathway to employment and/or more education. The services offered not only apply to those in a detox treatment facility, but anyone else who has been affected by the crisis either through a family member or friend.
In addition, thorough recruitment, assessment and selection processes will be utilized to identify career goals for lifelong learning and the appropriate Partner that can best assist the job seeker with education, training and workforce focus to obtain / retain employment in high growth occupations.
Richland Community College recently went to a coaching model for advising. This is a more intrusive approach. This method allows the coaches to become more knowledgeable and personal with their students, and as a return will understand the barriers that the individuals possess.
The Service Integration action plan(s) will help to expand customer service. Additional in-depth training of staff will allow all partners to better understand the customers walking through the door in order to improve alignment of services to address the barriers customers face as well as the barriers employers are facing in hiring employees.
Richland Community College and Workforce Investment Solutions formed a consortium for Adult Education and received funding through ICCB’s Adult Education and Family Literacy grant. The Consortium is located at the Decatur Public Library, which is downtown. This location provides for easy accessibility due to the Decatur Transit’s main hub being next door to the Library. The Consortium provides services for the at-risk individuals who need help in obtaining more education. Classes held at the Library include high school equivalency, English Language Learner, Bridge programming and
Basic Nursing Assistant. The Illinois workNet Center provides referrals to the Adult Education Consortium. Partners are updated on a monthly basis of program availability.
Lincoln Land Community College was awarded a $1 million grant to establish the Open Door – Workforce Equity Initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to provide minority and low-income individuals with career training that will lead to employment locally in less than a year. Eligible students can begin these programs at LLCC in January 2020.
In June 2019, the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) was notified that it received the U.S. Department of Labor’s Scaling Apprenticeships Through Sector-Based Strategies Grant. The ICCB was awarded nearly $4 million to implement the grant project over the next 4 years (fiscal years 2020-2023) to serve over 1700 participants. In our region Lincoln Land Community College and Richland College are the recipients of these grants.
By aligning services, our Region will be able to expand employment opportunities for job seekers and Partners will collaborate to reduce duplication of services and better utilize resources.
The regional partners have continued to expand their capacity to address the needs of employers. Partners within each LWIA in the region collaborate to understand the skill needs of employers and implement appropriate responses. Some examples of how the partners work with employers to understand skill needs include:
Each of the LWIAs use Business Services Teams (BSTs) to meet with employers on a regular basis to discuss emerging skill needs. In November of 2019, LWIA 19’s Business Services Team held a “Lean Coffee” event for the Healthcare Employers in the area. The event was developed to dive deeply into issues that industry and policy leaders, education and employers were facing locally. The overall goal was to identify potential solutions that would lead to growth and vitality of the Macon/DeWitt communities. Issues were recognized and an action plan was developed to help alleviate the issues. One outcome was the development of a healthcare day for Juniors and Seniors in high school, as well as the eighth grade. This was effective in advancing the knowledge of healthcare jobs in the community to students. The healthcare fair will continue on a yearly basis.
Local Workforce Area 20 uses its Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Advisory Committees (PACs), which bring together CTE program partners with members from related local industry and businesses for feedback and advice pertaining to the curriculum and future planning for each program. PACs help ensure that LLCC’s CTE programs remain current and are able to meet the needs of local employers and best prepare students for future employment within that field.
Some examples of how the partners have worked to develop expanded services for employers include:
LWIA 19 partners with agencies in the area in holding a Manufacturing Day for Juniors and Seniors in high school. This has been well attended and will continue.
LWIA 19 holds hiring events on a monthly basis in the Illinois workNet Center. Various employers in all sectors are included in these events.
Each of the LWIAs provide job fairs. LWIA 19’s job fair is done annually. At least 45 employers in Macon and DeWitt Counties attended, and over 175 people attended the fair.
LWIA 20 has completed a grant application for the Regional Navigator Apprenticeship Expansion grant. This application was submitted with the support of and in conjunction with LWIAs 19 and 21, LLCC, and CACC Sangamon County ROE.
Local Workforce Area partners that make up the region provide workshops, post job openings, conduct employee screening and referral, workforce training, work-based training, tax credit information, business location advice, and various employer services.
Other business services provided by Local Workforce Area staff include free use of conference rooms for meetings and/or recruitment activities such as interviewing and taking applications/resumes.
The Central Region has numerous postsecondary institutions that provide a wide array of educational services, including five community colleges, seven BA-granting institutions, one public university, a medical school, two nursing colleges, one private two-year college, and two occupational schools. The below Table lists the existing postsecondary institutions in the region.
Central Region Postsecondary Institutions | ||
Institution | Location | Type |
700 College Avenue Carlinville, IL 62626 | 4-Year Private | |
2201 Toronto Road Springfield, IL 62712-3803 | Nursing | |
Heartland Community College | 1500 W Raab Rd Normal, IL 61761 | 2-Year Public |
1101 West College Jacksonville, IL 62650 | 4-Year Private | |
John Wood Community College | 1301 South 48th Street Quincy, Il 62305 | 2-Year Public |
Lakeland Community College | 5100 Lake Land Blvd Mattoon, Il 61938 | 2-Year Public |
5800 Godfrey Road Godfrey, IL 62035 | 2-Year Public | |
100 Campus View Drive Lincoln, IL 62656 | 4-Year Private | |
300 Keokuk Lincoln, IL 62656 | 4-Year Private | |
5250 Shepherd Road Springfield, IL 62794-9256 | 2-Year Public | |
Central Region Postsecondary Institutions | ||
Institution | Location | Type |
447 East College Jacksonville, IL 62650 | 4-Year Private | |
2731 Farmers Market Rd Springfield, IL 62707 | Private Occupational | |
1184 West Main Street Decatur, IL 62522 | 4-Year Private | |
One College Park Decatur, IL 62521 | 2-Year Public | |
729 East Carpenter Street Springfield, IL 62702 | Nursing | |
P.O. Box 19624 Springfield, IL 62794-9624 | Professional | |
One University Plaza - UHB 1015 Springfield, IL 62703 | 4-Year Public | |
2913 West White Oaks Drive Springfield, IL 62704 | Private Occupational | |
Illinois Community College Graduates by Career Cluster, FY 2018, Central Region | |||||||
College | Health Science | Manufacturing | Business Management and Administration | Transportation and Warehousing | Architecture and Construction | Hospitality and Tourism | Information Technology |
Lewis & Clark | 546 | 106 | 19 | 0 | 32 | 49 | 15 |
Lincoln Land | 350 | 188 | 90 | 18 | 30 | 0 | 32 |
Richland | 282 | 49 | 46 | 45 | 116 | 60 | 36 |
Central Total | 1,178 | 343 | 155 | 178 | 109 | 83 | |
State Total | 15,930 | 3,874 | 3,141 | 1729 | 3110 | 1.510 | 2,101 |
% of State Total | 7.39% | 8.85% | 4.93% | 3.6% | 5.72% | 7.22% | 3.95% |
Through the MOU development process, each program partner in their respective LWIA has committed to the integration of workforce development services. The LWIA partners reached agreement on and submitted Action Plans for Improving Service Integration within their LWIAs to the State of Illinois in the fall of 2019.
In accordance with the Regional Planning guidelines, the partners to EDR 1’s plan commit to the implementation of their respective Service Integration Plans. The Partners recognize that the Service Integration Plans will change over time and that this document formalizes the commitment at the LWIA level to continue the work of integration as it evolves. The Region also recognizes that communication among partners is a common issue. To address this issue, they will develop a contact list of regional partners and issue advanced notices about new grants and programs as they are awarded.
Below is the summarization for each LWIAs commitments to current integration plans. LWIA 19:
Customer Input
New Tools - Customer Surveys
Update Customer Profile Form
Develop Customer Flow Charts
Use Customer Feedback to Shape Service System
Staff Capacity
Establish a Vision for Customer Service
Establish Core Set of Competencies for Staff
Community Resource Academy
Develop Sharing Culture Among Partners
Systems Communication
Finalize Referral Tracking System
Create Universal Consent Form
Create Schedule for Regular Meetings of Front-Line Staff
Notify Staff of Changes in Service Design
On-Going Systems Improvement
Complete Planning Process and Incorporate into Other Documents
Keep LWIB Informed on Implementation Progress.
LWIA 20:
Jobs Expectations Communicated to Staff
Assess Timing of One-Stop Operator and Partner Meetings
Share Information on Front-line Job Descriptions Across Partners
Mandatory Center Orientation for New Staff
Cross Training Provided to Staff
Provide Bi-Monthly Training Opportunities for Front-line Staff
Training Locations vary Among Partner Agencies
Communication Occurs Across all One-Stop Partners
Assess Timing of One-Stop Operator and Partner Meetings
Provide Bi-Monthly Training Opportunities for Front-line Staff
Training Locations vary Among Partner Agencies
Assure Email Lists include All Partners and Front-line Staff
Share One-Stop Center Event Calendars with all Partners
LWIA 21:
Job Expectations Communicated to Staff
Establish a Vision for Customer Service
Establish a Sub-Committee for Outreach to all Core Partners for more Involvement
More Cross Training for Front-Line Staff
All Staff Valued and Respected
Increase Partner Engagement
Share Information from Meetings with Staff in a Timely Manner
Listen to Ideas Presented by Other Staff/Partners
Services Delivered by Function
Create Sub-Committee to Oversee Solutions to Partner Participation and Confidentiality Issues Among Partners
Rotate Meeting Sites
Service Delivered by Function – Business Services
Formulate Business Service Teams (BST)
Track Business Contacted by BST by Use of Spreadsheet
Email Exchange by BST
Service Plans are Living Documents
Create Sub-Committee for Creation of a Comprehensive Referral Form and Follow-up Process.
The regional organizations that currently provide or could provide supportive services include:
Supportive Service | Provider |
Childcare |
Catholic Charities
Community Connection Point
Department of Human Services
Salvation Army
WIOA Title 1
Supportive Service | Provider |
Clothing | |
Food | |
Health | |
Housing | |
Transportation | |
Utilities |
Catholic Charities
Community Action Agencies
Good Will Industries
Salvation Army
Catholic Charities
Department of Human Services
Salvation Army
United Way
Department of Human Services
Veteran’s Affairs
Catholic Charities
Community Action Agencies
Department of Human Services
Good Will Industries
Salvation Army
United Way
Veteran’s Affairs
Department of Human Services
Good Will Industries
WIOA Title 1
Catholic Charities
Community Action Agencies
Local workforce areas have supportive service policies in place that promote coordination among community providers. Customers entering training must apply to Community Connection Point and Child Care Resource Services (CCRS)for childcare funding prior to supportive services being awarded by WIOA.
Transportation is more difficult to coordinate as mass transit and rural transportation organizations require payment even if it is a minimal amount. LWIA 19 is looking into creating an UBER account and policy. The Salvation Army has done this, and the LWIA is working with them to get their insight on how the process is working. LWIA 20 uses SMART Transport (Sangamon Menard Transportation) to provide transportation services. LWIA 21 uses West Central Transportation and CEFS Transportation.
The partners will work through the MOU process to identify better ways to promote coordination of supportive services. Each LWIA will develop a transportation and childcare provider list.
Each LWIA plans to hold a supportive services fair in which providers in each area share information on the ways that they can assist individuals with their childcare, transportation and
other needs. LWIA 19 partners with their local Salvation Army who provides a social services fair every year.
In addition, LWIA 20 completed an On-Line Service Finder System for youth that is hosted on the Illinois workNet website.
The LWIAs created a regional intake form for accessing supportive services, and this is being used by each of the LWIAs.
The following economic development organizations are engaged in regional planning:
Springfield/Sangamon Growth Alliance is focused on transforming the economy of Sangamon County.
City of Springfield - We are dedicated to being on the cutting edge with technological, social and cultural advances. That means an environment that provides flexibility and ample resources. Springfield offers those benefits along with a skilled, educated workforce and tremendous quality of life.
City of Decatur - offers a Dynamic Business Climate, Productive Workforce, Wonderful Quality of Life and can be a city in which you want to locate or expand your business.
Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce - With more than 125 years serving as the "Voice of Business" for the Decatur community, the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to promote opportunity and prosperity in local commerce. The chamber advocates on behalf of members for business-friendly legislation and offers programs, services, and networking opportunities to help make local business thrive and grow.
Economic Development Corporation for Decatur and Macon County - The EDC of Decatur & Macon County is a public/private nonprofit dedicated to the attraction, expansion and retention of businesses to our area. When companies need help, we are here to help with tools and resources such as employee training, GIS data mapping, location and demographic research, workforce studies, and more.
City of Litchfield - The City of Litchfield is dedicated to providing high quality customer service to the community. A Commitment and a strong sense of pride enables the City to remain at the forefront of municipal advancement.
Staffing and Employment Agencies
Regional Planning Commissions - Planning Commissions are involved in many activities of interest to municipal officials in the planning region, state and federal agencies with which they interact, and the general public.
University of Illinois/ Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation - We have several governing businesses who strive to improve the communities that they serve. Our strength lies in our private and public partnerships. Our goal is to promote our cities for development opportunities, but also to help businesses thrive and expand within Montgomery County.
LLCC, CACC, District #186-Partners who are interested in economic development and business success in the region.
IMEC –is a team of improvement specialists and technicians dedicated to providing organizations in Illinois with the tools and techniques to create sustainable competitive futures. The experienced hands-on team at IMEC works closely with its clients to plan critical business improvements in the areas of Leadership, Strategy, Customer Engagement, Operations, and Workforce.
Ameren - LWIA 19 approached the Ameren office in Decatur and was able to host an information session about the Ameren hiring process. There were 80 people who signed up for the event, and 60 showed up. The next step will be to discuss how a Regional alignment might take place. Ameren would like to be a part of the planning process.
None of the invited economic development organizations or business declined to participate.
Each of the Local Workforce Development Areas in the region has developed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and its One-Stop system infrastructure and system cost allocation.
These MOUs and One-Stop system budgets are submitted separately to the State in the spring of each year. The MOUs for PY 2019 were approved, submitted, and are currently in place through June 30, 2020. The PY 2020 MOUs are in the beginning stages of development. They will be approved by the Local Boards and will be submitted when signatures are garnered prior to June
The PY 2020 MOU will begin July 1, 2020. The regional partners participate in local MOU negotiations and commit to a good-faith effort when developing appropriate cost sharing arrangements that are consistent with our broader strategies for service integration and coordination as outlined in this plan.
The LWIAs in the Central Region have arranged to coordinate administrative costs through various means including pooling funds for initiatives, free or nominal meeting space and staff time and efforts supported by respective partners.
This section will outline how the Local Board(s) will coordinate the regional workforce, education and economic development activities with regional activities that are carried out in the local areas. The responses must illustrate that business, education and workforce development stakeholders have provided input and are involved with the development of the strategies and to ensure alignment with other plans.
The Central Economic Development Region 1 has adopted the State of Illinois strategic vision to support regional economic growth:
Maintaining a Demand-Driven Orientation to our planning work;
Developing and maintaining Strong Partnerships with Business;
Building Pathways to Careers of Today and Tomorrow;
Engaging in Cross-agency Collaboration and Connections among each of the partners;
Promoting Integrated Service Delivery;
Ensuring Equitable Access and Opportunity for all Populations;
Using Clear Metrics for Progress and Success; and
Maintaining a Focus on Continuous Improvement and Innovation.
The Regional Plan also supports the Action Agenda for Workforce Development and Job Creation, as outlined in the Governor’s Executive Order 3. To advance this Action Agenda, CEDR will:
Unite workforce development partners around regional clusters strategies by identifying high-impact regional clusters and associated in-demand occupations and implementing a coordinated workforce development strategy around regional clusters.
Prepare Illinois workers for a career, not just their next job by increasing apprenticeship opportunities, addressing barriers to successful training and employment, and establishing and supporting equity goals and aligning with Perkins equity goals.
Connect job seekers with employers by shortening time from credential to employment and integrating workforce services across program providers for one-stop customers.
The regional partners have considered the overall needs of their respective communities, the challenges of businesses and job seekers and the existing capacity of the workforce development system to respond to these needs. We have adopted the following goals to guide our work together during the next few years:
Develop and expand career pathways. The Region will continually review the existing pathways to determine what skilled jobs exist. Upon identification, the region will target our training and educational resources to expand access for individuals, including those with barriers, to such jobs.
Expand the use of the full range of work-based learning models for training, including work experience, internships, transitional employment, on-the-job training, apprenticeships and incumbent worker training.
Work with the local Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development representatives to research the development of talent pipelines within targeted industry sectors.
Continue to research and improve initiatives for assessing and improving the essential skills of our customers.
With respect to the performance accountability measures required in WIOA and the implementing rule, the LWIAs in the Central Region individually negotiated and reached agreement with the State on local levels of performance for performance accountability measures. Negotiations occur every other year for a two-year period and measures are in place. In addition, partners will actively engage in whatever process is implemented by the respective state agencies for negotiating and setting targets for these measures. The goals for the Title I programs are set through the use of a multiple regression model. These procedures are in place and the partners consult with their respective state agency contacts and meet to discuss the implications of the performance measures and required targets for service delivery and integration. The Core Partners work cooperatively to report performance outcomes across all programs to advance the goals of improving access and success for all customers. However, currently there is no universal or shared system for Partners to communicate performance and anything related to customers.
Appendix 1 includes the negotiated Title I performance goals for each of the three LWIAs that comprise the region.
We will use our Workforce Boards to create strategies for employer engagement and to lead engagement efforts for specific industries, particularly for the primary targeted sectors.
We will work with the existing community college advisory committees to leverage the work of these committees to inform our planning and policies for career pathway development, and to help ensure that these advisory committees benefit from the perspectives of the workforce system. Program advisory committees exist for each AAS/AAA program offered by the community colleges. They have well-established procedures for garnering employer input into the skill needs of the occupations for which the programs prepare students.
As discussed in Chapter 1, the goal for the region’s Next Generation partnerships is to have one top tier industry meet annually to address all issues and concerns for the region. These events will encompass employers, Chambers of Commerce, and Economic Development organizations and will discuss all issues that the companies are experiencing, including workforce concerns. At the end of the 2020 regional plan we will have met with all three top tier industries and will have outcomes that show how we addressed their workforce matters.
We will work with Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development organizations to coordinate our outreach efforts to employers. The focus of this effort will be more oriented toward marketing the services of the workforce development system to regional employers as part of the overall economic development business retention effort.
We will also use our Business Services Teams to coordinate engagement of employers. The focus of this effort will be oriented toward responding to the specific workforce needs of individual employers who come to the attention of any of the business service personnel of the regional partners.
Examples of the work being done by our Business Services Teams in each LWIA are described below:
LWA 19: LWIA 19’s Business Services Team (BST) meets monthly. The Team helps with planning and organizing sector-based career fairs. A Manufacturing Day is held in October and
a Healthcare Day is held in April of every year. The target population for the fairs are middle school students and high school juniors and seniors.
Something new the LWIA 19’s BST is working on is implementing an Essential Skills workshop to be held at the local One-Stop Center. This will be a “pilot” program. The goal is to take the class out to other sites in the area once the first one is completed. The “National Career Readiness Certificate” is being looked at as a completion for the class. A curriculum is being developed by Richland Community College. Topics will include: Appearance, communication, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking, professionalism/manners, punctuality and confidence/attitude.
LWA 20: The LWIA 20 BST meets monthly. At the meetings the goal is to organize who attends job fairs, communicates/meets with businesses, etc. so we are one organized unit gathering and sharing data to address employer’s needs. One document was created to highlight all of the team members and their contact information. This is presented to employers at business visits so they can see which organization can address their specific concerns. The team also attends and participates in local job fairs:
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce (2 per year) – Partner
Veterans Job Fair (Held at the American Legions’ State Conference)– partner
Christian County – We organized them and include BST
Cass County Job Fair- We have partner with IDES
Various Job Fairs for major lay-off events (Shop N Save, HD Smith, Vibra Hospital and Ardagh)
Additionally, an essential skills class was developed from BST meetings to address employer concerns regarding soft and foundational workplace skills. This workshop is held twice a month at the AJC.
LWA 21: The LWIA BST is currently meeting to discuss and plan for two upcoming Job Fairs. These are annual events and our plans are for the BSTs to continue to work together to recruit employers and help administer the fairs. We have developed a good working relationship with LLCC and LCCC as well as other partners to have successful Job fairs. One is held at Litchfield and the other one is at LCCC at their main Campus in Godfrey, Il. each Spring. Once the Job Fairs are over we post on our websites all the employers that were present and what jobs they are recruiting for to continually help support their recruitment efforts.
The Economic Development community of EDR 1 primarily serves as link between local businesses and workforce development initiatives through their Business Development & Retention programs. These programs will provide feedback from employers concerning the state of employment and recruitment. This information allows for a more holistic response from workforce partners as employers needs evolve.
Process mapping will be used, when needed, to identify the services provided by the partners, therefore eliminating any overlapping services. The continual goal is to streamline the delivery of services for customers. A common Intake Assessment Tool has been developed, as discussed in the previous plan, with input from all partners in order to assess the customers’ needs more effectively. All staff are now cross trained in all partner programs in order to better recognize the needs of the customer; another goal that was listed in the previous regional plan. Partner staff will continue to be immediately accessible to client’s as they enter the One Stop and have their needs met with any onsite partner and through the direct linkage system.
Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is the State employment office for Illinois businesses and workers, providing no-cost human resources solutions linking hiring businesses to qualified job seekers. The office has numerous designated staff members that focus on Wagner-Peyser/Employment Services (WP/ES) offered to job seekers. In addition, current resource room staff have been trained on WP/ES services and can assist any customer with questions.
Work search services will continue to be offered to this population and these services are designed to assist job seekers to return to the workforce as quickly as possible. WP/ES offers work search assistance via one-on-one services or workshops and events. One-Stop staff collaboratively develops and maintains connections with partner and community organizations. These connections are essential when a barrier to employment has been identified. WP/ES staff focuses on job seekers who are receiving unemployment insurance benefits to encourage economic growth and stability.
Employment services include the state labor exchange system (illinoisjoblink.com), resume preparation assistance, on-line job search & application techniques, interviewing techniques and job matching. WP/ES staff is prepared to provide job seekers with information on all programs and services provided by IDES. This includes but is not limited to: Veterans, Work Opportunity Tax Credits, IllinoisJobLink.com (IJL), The Illinois Career Information System, Labor Market Information, Hire the Future, and Re-Entry Service Programs.
Through outreach conducted via phone and emails and social media, we notify job seeking customers of ongoing workshops, job fairs, on-site hiring events, and partner and employer orientations. IWDS and IJL are used to track and record referrals to job opportunities, partner services, community services and service delivery. The One Stop staff references employer information to identify employment opportunities for job seekers. WP/ES staff, along with the Business Services team review job orders to understand the job description, qualifications and requirements of available positions within an organization to help ensure that employers are receiving the most qualified candidates.
Concerning the Decatur IL, MSA, the following organizations are active in business development for this area:
SCORE – A national network of business start-up mentoring and planning experts providing training, insight and general support.
Midwest Inland Port (Business Development Resource Center) – A centralized point of contact for all available community and regional services providing referrals and directional advice to potential new businesses.
Center for Entrepreneurship - A dedicated resource for entrepreneurs at every level. Through a variety of programs and development opportunities, The Center serves Millikin faculty and students, youth (ranging in age from elementary to high school level), community, and local businesses.
SBDC - Illinois Small Business Development Centers are located throughout the state and provide information, confidential business guidance, training and other resources to start-up and existing small businesses.
In the Springfield, IL, MSA , the following are some of the organizations involved in business development:
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Lincoln Land Community College is the main provider of services that support the establishment and expansion of small business in our local area. Services include classes, one-on-one counseling, assistance with business plan development and loan applications, marketing plan development, etc.
Local Chambers of Commerce, such as The Greater Springfield Chamber also provide support for existing businesses to help them flourish and expand, as well as attract new companies to relocate to this area.
Innovate Springfield (iSPI), a division of the University of Illinois system, is a downtown business incubator in Springfield that offers a synergistic environment, office space for rent and many other resources to help fledgling companies address various needs including financial, IT, marketing and networking.
Sangamon CEO is one of many like programs in the state that introduce entrepreneurship to high school students. It is a year-long program where students develop their own businesses while receiving entrepreneurship training at various local company facilities.
The regional partners discuss at their Regional meetings how their Business Services Teams can continue to support the regional sector strategies, a goal from the last plan. This continues to
allow the Regional team to leverage to limited resources and provides a more robust menu of work-based learning opportunities to area businesses, including incumbent worker training, OJT opportunities, apprenticeships, and customized training needs.
LWIA 19 received a Healthcare Innovation grant to begin in the Spring of PY19. This grant will address the shortage of healthcare instructors in their area. This 18-month grant will provide a healthcare sector service recruiter to focus on developing a group of potential healthcare instructors. A process will be developed and implemented so other areas can emulate and address shortages and/or needs in their local workforce area.
The partners continue to examine possible Regional Career Pathways. This helps identify opportunities for expansion and access to existing career pathways as well as acknowledge unmet skill needs of employers that may be addressed through the development of new career pathway programs or modification of existing pathways.
CEDR 1 responded to the recent Apprenticeship Expansion Grant opportunity to operate as the Regional Apprenticeship Navigator. We applied for this grant in conjunction with numerous partners: Lincoln Land Community College, Capitol Area Career Center and Sangamon County. Letters of support from the local workforce areas were gathered acknowledging this regional effort and the plans to collaborate on regional apprenticeship opportunities.
In June 2019, the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) was notified that it received the U.S. Department of Labor’s Scaling Apprenticeships Through Sector-Based Strategies Grant. The ICCB was awarded nearly $4 million to implement the grant project over the next 4 years (fiscal years 2020-2023) to serve over 1700 participants. The grant requires that 35% of the grant funding would be matched by private dollars. The ICCB is the fiscal agent and lead on behalf of the community college system whereas ten participating colleges will receive funds under this grant. This grant will focus on expanding apprenticeship programming within Information Technology occupations.
Participating Colleges | Information Technology Pathways |
1. College of Lake County | IT Generalist/ Network Systems |
2. Oakton Community College | Information (cyber) Security |
3. Kishwaukee College | Programming and Software Development |
4. City Colleges of Chicago | *list not exclusive |
5. Prairie State College | |
6. Illinois Central College | |
7. Richland Community College | |
8. Lincoln Land Community College | |
9. Rend Lake College | |
10. Parkland Community College |
Each of the ten community colleges will work with their local employers. In addition, statewide commitments have been made by Accenture and CompTIA. Support and wrap-around services are a critical and required component of the grant project. The project will leverage support from One Million Degrees, Young Invincibles, Autonomy Works, among other organizations to identify and/or provide these wraparound services.
The goals of this grant project are to:
Expand existing industry-led customized apprenticeships through IT sector partnerships by:
incorporating pre-apprenticeship models (Bridge Programs, Integrated Education and Training), Essential Employability Skills Framework, support services, and paid work- based learning resulting in industry recognized credential(s);
developing program models inclusive of incumbent worker outreach and upskilling strategies, such as in-house training and prior learning assessment.
Innovate new apprenticeship models for pilot and expansion that:
utilize new approaches for acceleration and flexibility, including competency-based education delivery and shorter-term and accelerated programs;
partner with CompTIA to scale industry credentials and address emerging industry skillsets related to cybersecurity;
result in family-sustaining employment.
In partnership with Jobs for the Future and Harper College, scale and expand apprenticeship model nationally by:
emphasizing partner recruitment, a strong external communication and dissemination plan, and professional development/coaching activities related to model expansion;
articulating a continuous improvement and national replication strategy.
LLCC received this grant from ICCB in the Fall of 2019 to assist with expanding apprenticeship opportunities in the field of IT. LLCC will offer academic IT Pathway options at various levels of student progression. For a full discussion on implementation see page 45
In addition to the above, RCC recently applied for the Apprenticeship Expansion Grant as an intermediary with a primary focus on the Healthcare Sector and the hiring of an Apprenticeship Coordinator. Hopefully RCC will hear in March. This position will also build on a youth apprenticeship that the college, Decatur Public Schools, Heartland Technical Academy, and HSHS Medical Group is working on in the CNA-Nursing area.
RCC has the IDOT funding Highway Construction Careers Training Program that is a pre- apprenticeship for the local labor unions in the skilled trades.
The college has a current DOL registered apprenticeship with Fuyao Glass.
The region has undertaken several initiatives that are intended to shorten the time from credential to employment, in collaboration with its community colleges.
Industrial Job Skills Training Program: RCC utilized a state Workforce Grant in the fall of 2018 to develop the Industrial Job Skills Training Program to meet the needs of local manufacturers. The Director of Workforce Development attended a manufacturing roundtable hosted by Decatur Area Chamber of Commerce in January of 2018, and at the roundtable a large discussion from local manufacturers were addressing the soft skills need and need for entry-level employees that had basic knowledge. As a result of this meeting, RCC Workforce Development created a 360 hour training program, called EnRich that provides Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) credentials built into the training along with OSHA, Equipment training, hand tools, welding, CNC machining, math, and the essential skills.
Towards the end of the 360-hour training employers are invited to campus to interview those that are approaching graduation. In Decatur Macon County, the unemployment rate for African Americans has been around 22%, three times that of white residents. EnRich completers are 64% minority, with 57% classified as African American, 79% male and 43% African American Male. A total of 89% of EnRich participants who completed the program were hired by major local employers. Of those, 80% remain employed. More than 35% have a criminal record with 100% of participants being unemployed or underemployed. The following employers have hired participants from the program and the table identifies those who were a part of the original roundtable discussion for a program like this:
Firms Hiring program participants: | Participated in roundtable: |
ADM BioProducts | |
Agri-Fab | |
All Service | |
Archer Daniels Midland | X |
Arcosa Wind Towers | |
Caterpillar | X |
Crossing Healthcare | |
Dynagraphics | |
Fuyao Glass Illinois, Inc | |
International Control Services | |
Kelly Construction | |
Macon Resources Inc. | |
Mason Manufacturing | X |
Mervis Industries | |
Mueller Company | X |
Ring Container Technologies | X |
Stripmasters, Inc | |
Tate & Lyle | X |
The Kelly Group |
Firms Hiring program participants: | Participated in roundtable: |
Vector Construction | |
Voestalpine Nortrak Inc |
Workforce Equity Initiative Grant: RCC is also utilizing the Workforce Equity Initiative Grant (WEIG) to provide short-term CDL training for predominately African Americans and ex- offenders. The training will not only prepare individuals to take and pass their CDL Class A test, but will also deliver hands-on tandem truck spreader training to prepare individuals to start their own owner/operator tandem truck business. Other individuals will be trained to receive their passenger endorsement so that they can work for the local bus companies. Another aspect of the WEIG will be the training of 8 paraprofessional educators so that they can move into livable wages and work towards an education degree.
Customized Apprenticeship Program-Information Technology (CAP-IT): LLCC received this grant from ICCB in the Fall of 2019 to assist with expanding apprenticeship opportunities in the field of IT. LLCC will offer academic IT Pathway options at various levels of student progression. For the entry level student, existing IT Bridge Programs within Adult Education will serve as a feeder to the Pre-apprenticeship, which offers courses that lead to industry standard certifications. These certifications will support occupational pathways that include Computer Systems Analysts, Developers (Systems Software), Network Architects, Systems Engineers/Architects and Cyber Security Analysts. Postsecondary certificate offerings include a Computer Administration Certificate, a Cisco Network Administrator Certificate, and a Cyber Security Certificate. Mid-level IT degrees include an Associate in Arts degree in Computer Information Systems and two Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Computer Information Technology and Secured Software Programming. These curricula are currently being revised to align with the requirements of occupational pathways. Top level IT articulation agreements with university partners throughout the state of Illinois will also be updated and offered. These strategies will support occupational pathways including Computer Systems Analysts, Software Developers, Computer Network Architects, Computer Systems Engineers/Architects and Cyber Security Specialists.
Workforce Training Offerings: The Capital City Training Center (CCTC) is a partnership between Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) and Central Management Services (CMS). This unique partnership was formed to serve the technology training needs of local organizations through scheduled courses and our customized training programs.
Pre-Apprenticeship Programming: LLCC offers the Highway Construction Careers Training Program that regularly leads students to apprenticeships within the trades. IDOT has funded this program to expand the number of people in historically underrepresented populations who enter a construction career.
CBE Cybersecurity: LLCC offers a certificate program in cybersecurity that provides technical skills necessary to prepare students for a job in the computer networking or security area in both traditional and competency-based education (CBE) format. CBE allows students to earn credit for existing knowledge in the subject which typically reduces time necessary to complete the credential.
Once again, LWIA 20 has completed a grant application for the Regional Navigator Apprenticeship Expansion grant. This application was submitted with the support of and in conjunction with LWIAs 19 and 21, LLCC, and CACC Sangamon County ROE. If receive it will help further the effort to shorten time from credential to employment.
The region will foster the improvement and expansion of employer-driven regional sector partnerships to increase the focus on critical in-demand occupations in key sectors through the following efforts.
We will work with our economic development partners within our region to identify existing partnerships and initiatives with employers in our key sectors.
We will identify local employers willing to provide expertise to our sector initiatives.
We will work with community partners to organize and or expand work within existing partnerships or create new partnerships.
Adult Education programs will continue to expand career pathways. However, there is still a strong need for adult education learners to complete the essential skills and Bridge programs to prepare for industry level and stackable certificates. These programs will continue to result in a higher success rate for completion and employment.
Lincoln Land Community College offers an IET in Healthcare Careers. Highlights of the program include:
Students earn 12.5 college credits
18-week program includes a 2-week Academy, with instruction and activities related to team-building activities, communication skills, problem solving, reliability, integrity and organization
1st 8-week session includes courses such as First Year Experience, Health in Today’s Society, pre-C.N.A.
2nd 8-week session is NAS101 (Basic Nurse Assistant), which includes clinicals
Support Class provided throughout program to assist with critical thinking, math and course pace issues
GED class for those students who have not earned a High School diploma or the equivalent
Students earn 3 industry recognized certificates at the end of 18 weeks
CPR for Healthcare
LLCC Certificate of Completion – Basic Nurse Assistant
State of Illinois Basic Nurse Assistant Certificate
LLCC has approved IETS for Automotive Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Manufacturing as well. Those programs are provided as funding allows.
A best practice that has emerged from the delivery of these programs is that strong bridge courses, tied to these employment sectors, will better prepare students for the rigor of the IET courses. Bridge course development is ongoing.
The partners will continue to work with local community groups to identify individuals who might benefit from WIOA services. LWA 20 has collaborated with local community colleges and their admissions departments to assess WIOA eligibility during the initial admissions process, therefore acknowledging customers’ in a more streamlined manner.
We recognize that in order for customers with significant barriers to employment to be successful, basic needs, essential skills, education barriers, perceptions of work, peer pressure and a range of issues have to be addressed. Career services now include and will continue to include support and counseling services from trained workforce development professionals.
LWA #19 received a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant to address the Opioid crisis. Macon County was/is identified as an area with a high need for emergency assistance.
Workforce Investment Solutions (WIS) is a Federal Employment & Training Program under the United States Department of Labor. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has declared the Opioid epidemic as a national public health emergency. WIS and Crossing Healthcare have developed a relationship that will assist individuals who are enrolled in the Transitions part of the treatment process. WIS will be housed in the Transition Center to assist residents with education and employment training. WIS has a mission to provide business with qualified employees by enhancing their skills and abilities through training and education. In addition, by establishing relationships with job seekers to align education and employment training is a
priority. These relationships will be key in developing an individual employment plan for residents who are enrolled in the Transitions program
Through a collaboration with Crossing Healthcare, a local federally qualified health center, located in Decatur, Illinois, we will create disaster-relief employment to alleviate the effects of the opioid crisis in our community, as well as provide employment and training activities, including supportive services, to address economic and workforce impacts related to widespread use, addiction, and overdose.
The partners will continue to expand career services and opportunities while working with employers who are willing to work with persons facing barriers. LWA 20 successfully participated in the State-wide Coordination and Innovation Project for Returning Citizens (IPRC) grant that addressed the needs of individuals who were reentering the workforce after incarceration. This grant is intended to increase employment and training opportunities for offenders re-entering the workforce by providing direct services inside of Logan County Correctional Center in collaboration with IDOC and IDES. We will continue to support these state-wide goals locally and as a region. It is important to expose individuals with barriers to positive work ethic and will continue to be a regional focus.
Community organizations will continue to work together and find the most effective ways to identify and serve nontraditional participants. The regional goal is to assist customers in being completely self-sufficient.
The Region will utilize systems developed by the State of Illinois that expand information for employers and job seekers to use for their workforce related needs. We will participate in any training provided by the state on these systems and provide input on their development, if asked.
The State developed an online service finder and LWA 20 hired an outside consultant to expand upon this system to highlight more youth services offered in the area. This system is now user friendly for youth and acknowledges all wrap around services for individuals who are at risk.
