The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Proclaims the Week of April 26 – May 2 as Apprenticeship Week in Chicago and Suburban Cook County

Whereas, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) is the non-profit umbrella organization that oversees one of the largest public workforce systems in the country serving Chicago and suburban Cook County;

Whereas, The Partnership is the designated administrator of federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding for the City of Chicago and Cook County and manages a network of approximately 70 community-based organizations;

Whereas, The Partnership also oversees a diverse portfolio of workforce initiatives representing corporate and philanthropic funds leveraging non-federal workforce development funding;

Whereas, Illinois operates one of the most expansive state apprenticeship ecosystems in the nation and The Partnership operates one of the most diversified apprenticeship portfolios among local workforce development boards in the country;

Whereas, over Program Year 2024, The Partnership engaged approximately 100 regional employers in apprenticeship development; created or expanded 20 regional Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP); and fostered approximately 70 active apprenticeship employer-partners;

Whereas, it is known that there is an average apprenticeship retention rate of 91% nationally;

Now, Therefore, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership proclaims April 26 to May 2 as National Apprenticeship Week and commits to continuing its work serving regional career seekers and employers, developing apprenticeship programs in traditional and non-traditional sectors.