The Calumet Area Industrial Commission (CAIC) recently was awarded an $8.9 million H-1B One Workforce Grant from the US Department of Labor to train 1,100 individuals in a manufacturing career and place into employment over the next four years.
The goal of the grant is to create a pipeline of skilled workers for the manufacturing sector and create learning pathways for individuals. Two-thirds of the grant will pay tuition, books and fees for individuals enrolled in manufacturing programs at one of the 10 community college partners— Kankakee, Joliet, Oakton, South Suburban, Prairie State, Triton, Daley, Olive-Harvey, Moraine Valley and Ivy Tech in Indiana.
Grant dollars can also assist employers in upskilling their current workforce for advancement into higher skilled jobs and increased wages.
CAIC is a manufacturing membership based organization located in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood. It was formed in 1967 to lead the industrial expansion and retention efforts in metropolitan Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions.
For more information on the grant, please contact Craig Schmidt, vice president of talent development at 773.928.6000 x240 or [email protected].