Illinois Community College System. Workforce Development Grant Report Business and Industry Services, Fiscal Year 2009

The Illinois Community College Board provided more than $3.3 million to community colleges during fiscal year 2009 to support local workforce and economic development services through their Business and Industry Centers. The workforce development activities conducted under this grant include customized job training on campus or on-site at a business; assisting entrepreneurs in business start-up; providing counseling and management assistance to small and medium sized business owners; helping businesses with government procurement opportunities; offering professional continuing education; developing training programs for unemployed and underemployed workers; and serving businesses with alternative education delivery systems, such as distance learning. The grant funds support colleges' efforts to help companies grow by providing economic development assistance at costs they can afford and by providing needed technical and English language training to upgrade workers' skills. This paper highlights the community colleges' activities for fiscal year 2009. In summary, Illinois community colleges provided workforce and economic development services to a total of approximately 165,000 businesses and individuals. These services resulted in the start up of over 330 companies, expansion of more than 190 companies, and retention of 550 companies. In addition, nearly 2,700 jobs were created and nearly another 14,300 jobs were retained.