Full Description
City Colleges of Chicago was awarded
$5.5 million in grants from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) as part
of ICCB’s Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI), which focuses on improving
workforce equity starting in fiscal year 2020 in at-risk communities. Kennedy-King
College, Olive-Harvey College and Malcolm X College each received $1.5 million,
and Wright College received $1 million.
The objective of the grant is to offer
more students the opportunity to quickly complete short-term certificate programs
that lead to employment in high-skilled, high-wage, and in-demand occupations to
further promote workforce equity for African Americans in Illinois.
“The City is committed to expanding opportunities for young people
to engage in meaningful work experiences while still in school,” said Mayor
Lori E. Lightfoot. “Career-relevant learning and post-secondary credentials
play a vital role in creating new pathways to economic opportunity for
Chicagoans and helping our communities thrive.”
The grant funds will
be used to offer students opportunities to earn an industry-recognized
credential and/or certificate (credit or non-credit) and take advantage of financial supports and last-dollar
scholarships. The colleges and programs awarded by the state target the city’s
South and West Side communities.
“I want to thank the state of Illinois for supporting
our efforts to create greater access and equitable outcomes for students across
Chicago communities,” said City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado.
“These funds will help ensure we can serve students who most need the
opportunity to quickly secure in-demand jobs and move up the income ladder.”
Olive-Harvey College, which recently opened a first-of-its-kind
in Illinois Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Center, will use the
$1.5 million to support students in basic certificate programs in the fields of Auto-Diesel Repair; Specialized
Freight/CDL; General Warehousing; Air Transportation Service Technicians; and Custom
Computer Programming Services.
At Kennedy-King College, the grant
money will benefit students pursuing programs in automotive technology,
collision, construction, HVAC and cyber technology.
Malcolm X College plans to use the
grant to increase the number of African American students from communities on
the West Side of Chicago who enroll in and complete six basic certificate
programs—Community Health Worker, Cybersecurity, Emergency Medical Technician
(EMT), Personal Fitness Training, Phlebotomy and Sterile Processing.
Wright College’s funds will support
the school’s JobHire initiative, a tuition-free, short-term job training
program, which leads participants to meaningful certifications in Advanced
Manufacturing, Information Technology and Public Safety. The program aims to
serve students in the Austin community.
To learn more about City Colleges and
to apply, please visit ccc.edu or call 773/COLLEGE.