Illinois Is #1 For Workforce Development In Midwest
For the second consecutive year, Site Selection Magazine named Illinois the #1 leader for workforce development in the Midwest. The top ranking highlights the state's critical investments in workforce programs and talent development and showcases Illinois' strong employment climate and commitment to economic growth.
The announcement comes on the heels of this Chicago Tribune Op-Ed, which reminded readers that Illinois continues to jump up the economic development charts, placing #2 in the U.S. for corporate investment, #2 in the U.S. for infrastructure, #2 in the U.S. for education, #6 in the U.S. for capital access and #9 in the U.S. for cost of living. These rankings are reflected in CNBC's ranking of Illinois as one of the top states for business, and JPMorgan Chase's finding that 61% of Illinois' small and midsized business owners are optimistic about the region's economic climate.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) just joined together in launching the new Made in Illinois Grant Program - to provide up to $50,000 in matching grant funding for small and mid-sized Illinois manufacturers to support innovation and strategic advancements.
Rosalind Franklin University has been awarded $8.1 million by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to support cutting-edge infrastructure and technology. This grant is not just a major investment in local education, but a powerful example of the ways that Lake County stakeholders and organizations band together across sectors to fuel equitable care and workforce training.
Nonprofit organization Diveheart has been pioneering scuba therapy for people with disabilities for 20+ years. Now, the group is looking to expand in Lake County by building the world's deepest warm water therapy pool. After completing a preliminary facility design, securing the second of two patents on the deep pool design, and finalizing a capital raise feasibility assessment, Diveheard is kicking off a major fundraising campaign.
