The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and Cook County Assist Residents and Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

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$4 million in CARES Act funding supports Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Job Training and Placement Program  

(Chicago) – The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) today announced it is receiving $4 million from Cook County in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. The support comes as part of the Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Job Training and Placement Program (the Program), to provide training, placement, and lay-off aversion for suburban Cook County jobseekers and employers impacted by COVID-19.  

The funding will support training, placement, and career coaching programs for job seekers and provide additional resources for employers and training providers serving or located in suburban Cook County.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences have been felt across all of Cook County,” said President Preckwinkle. “But this is especially true in communities that were under-resourced before the pandemic began – our Black and Brown communities. Cook County is proud to be able to offer this funding using an equity-based framework so that the residents who need help the most are provided with the skills and opportunities needed to weather the storm and reclaim financial stability.” 

 The Partnership operates the public workforce system in Chicago and suburban Cook County and administers federal job training and placement initiatives for those seeking employment and those seeking to hire. The system’s network consists of American Job Centers, industry sector-focused workforce centers, and more than 70 community-based organizations. All the network’s sites are currently providing services virtually, with some also holding in-person meetings by appointment.  

 “This program increases our capacity to serve the men and women of suburban Cook County and move individuals and businesses toward economic recovery” said The Partnership CEO Karin M. Norington-Reaves. “We are seeing increases in attendees at virtual job fairs and on-line training, as the need for workforce development services continues to grow.  This funding allows us to expand our efforts to help job seekers find and retain meaningful work, and help businesses keep their workforce employed,”  

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership will use Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Job Training and Placement funds to build capacity with these agencies:   

• North Suburban Cook County American Job Center (Arlington Heights, IL) 
• West Suburban Cook County American Job Center (Maywood, IL) 
• Southwest Suburban Cook County American Job Center (North Riverside, IL) 
• South Suburban Cook County American Job Center at Prairie State College (Chicago Heights, IL) 
• South Suburban Cook County American Job Center (Harvey, IL) 
• Manufacturing Renaissance (Chicago, IL, serving suburban Cook County) 
• Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action (Maywood, IL) 

 Businesses seeking assistance in hiring new staff or averting potential layoffs can visit The Partnership’s website at ChiCookWorks.org.  For more information about the Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Job Training and Placement Program, please visit  ChiCookWorks.org/CountyCARES or call 1-800-720-2515 to be directed to a listing of the American Job Centers in suburban Cook County.