Western Governors University Supports Regional Workforce Development with $10,000 Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Sponsorship
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) today announced it has received a $10,000 sponsorship from Western Governors University (WGU). WGU is the Pioneer Sponsor of The Partnership’s Development of Social Determinants of Success Program, examining the critical Return on Investment (ROI) of regional workforce development.
The Program aims to tell a comprehensive ROI story by demonstrating the measurable impact of public and private investment in The Partnership and its network, including impact on job seekers, employers, and the broader regional economy. By identifying barriers and quantifying educational and workforce outcomes, the Program seeks to illustrate how these investments drive economic growth, strengthen talent pipelines, and deliver long-term value for the entire region.
WGU is a leader in online education, ranging from secondary to graduate programs, focusing on affordability and ensuring graduates at all levels earn a degree or credential with economic value.
“WGU is proud to support The Partnership as it advances this important work to show how workforce investments change lives and strengthen our region,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, WGU Regional Vice President. “When individuals have access to education and training that meet them where they are, they can build careers that provide stability, mobility, and long-term opportunity. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating a stronger and more inclusive talent pipeline for Chicago and Cook County.”
“In terms of outcomes, The Partnership and our network consistently exceed funding-related performance measures in the services provided to career seekers throughout Chicago and suburban Cook County,” said George Wright, CEO of The Partnership. “We are now going beyond outcomes to emphasize impact, such as the positive effect of the $152 million earned by residents who worked with our network in one year. This type of ROI to our economy and individual lives and families is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of the overall relevance of the public workforce development system.”
Dr. Hopson recently joined Mr. Wright on Episode 39 of The Partnership’s Hire Frequency podcast: Relevance and Affordability Should Be Two Important Words in Education Today.
For more information, visit chicookworks.org or LevelUpAJC.org. To support the regional public workforce development network, visit chicookworks.org/donate.
About The Partnership
The Partnership is the non-profit umbrella organization that oversees one of the largest public workforce systems in the country. As the designated administrator of federal workforce development funding for the City of Chicago and Cook County, The Partnership manages a network of approximately 70 community-based organizations, including American Job Centers and Career Centers, serving youth and adults. We also oversee a diverse portfolio of workforce initiatives representing corporate and philanthropic funds leveraging non-federal workforce development funding. For more information, visit https://chicookworks.org/.
About Western Governors University
Western Governors University, the nation’s leading nonprofit, online university, is transforming higher education to be more student-centric, affordable, accessible to all, and relevant to the workforce. Established in 1997 by 19 visionary U.S. governors, WGU creates life-changing pathways to opportunity for those underserved by traditional institutions — working adults, historically underrepresented communities, and a diverse, growing number of learners looking for a flexible, online model that better suits their life circumstances. WGU’s competency-based education model allows students to demonstrate mastery as they progress through programs at their own pace.
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WGU operates in all 50 states and offers more than 110 degree programs in health, education, technology and business. As of the release of this report in September 2025, WGU serves more than 190,000 students nationwide, with more than 395,000 alumni, and has awarded more than 445,000 degrees. Follow WGU on LinkedIn.