Gov. Pritzker Announces Federal Grant Awards to Illinois Internship Programs

CHICAGO—Today Governor JB Pritzker announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded three Illinois organizations nearly $19 million total for apprenticeship training programs through the Apprenticeship Building America Grant Round 2 (ABA2). The Board of Trustees at University of Illinois in Chicago, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair in Hoffman Estates, and the Illinois Foundation of SkillsUSA VICA in Pekin were all awarded grants.

“I’m thrilled that Acting Secretary Su and the DOL recognize the hard work Illinois has put into our workforce development programs over recent years—work that recently ranked us #1 in the Midwest for workforce development infrastructure,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These deserving organizations will now have further support in their essential mission of uplifting Illinoisans seeking high quality training to prepare them for successful careers.”

“Today’s historic investment in Registered Apprenticeships – the superhighways of our workforce infrastructure system – demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to both America’s workers and employers,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “This award, totaling more than $244 million, will help to expand, strengthen and diversify programs that aren’t just one-offs – they create a pipeline of workers with in-demand skills, connecting them with good jobs that create real security for workers and their families. This interconnected system will help to ensure that all communities benefit from the jobs created by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.”

The awards for each organization are:

These competitive grant awards are among the nearly $195 million that will come through the second round of grant funding under the Apprenticeship Building America initiative, which supports public-private partnerships designed to serve a range of industries and individuals. Together, these investments will reach communities across the country through 52 grantees located in 32 states.

The program is targeted to expand the use of Registered Apprenticeships across in-demand fields, such as K-12 education, clean energy, IT and cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, supply chain, hospitality, care economy and public-sector occupations. The grant criteria includes a focus on ensuring all Americans, including those from historically disadvantaged communities, are included in workforce development opportunities.

The DOL also announced $49 million through the second round of the competitive portion of the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants to 9 states, of which the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will receive nearly $1.7 million of additional funding. State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula advance the Biden-Harris administration’s goals to expand, modernize and diversify Registered Apprenticeship for all American workers, including women, people of color, individuals with disabilities and other underserved communities in training opportunities for high demand fields, especially those seeing growth under the CHIPS and Inflation Reduction Acts.

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