© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

ICC Receiving $9M For New Workforce Development Center

ICC Workforce Development Center Rendering
Illinois Central College
ICC Workforce Development Center Rendering

A new Workforce Development Center at Illinois Central College's East Peoria campus will receive a total of $9 million in government funding.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a $3 million Economic Development Adminstration grant towards funding the new building. ICC will receive another $6 million in matching state and local funding.

The Workforce Development Center will offer training to help plug workforce gaps in the Peoria-area economy. 

"The students completing these programs will be integral to meeting our area's current and emerging workforce needs over the next decade, particularly in manufacturing and renewable energy technologies. This building will showcase the best of sustainable practices, not only in its design and operations, but also in its functionality as it provides credentials for the green industry workforce," said Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, President of Illinois Central College in prepared remarks.

"When we work with businesses - whether already in the region, looking to startup and scale up, or looking to locate here - we consistently hear that workforce is their number one priority.  ICC's Workforce Sustainability Center will help our region fill those critical jobs and help our citizens find meaningful work," 
said Christopher Setti the CEO of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council in a prepared statement.

Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU.

Tim Shelley is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.