For Immediate Release 
April 24, 2009                                                                                          

Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022

STIMULUS FUNDS TO HELP WITH JOB TRAINING AND CREATION

DU PAGE COUNTY — DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom is pleased to announce that DuPage is receiving $4.7 million in funds that will be used for job preservation, training and creation.  The funds are a portion of the $787 billion economic stimulus package recently adopted by Congress. 

“These funds will help us preserve and create jobs, promote economic recovery, and assist those most impacted by current economic conditions,” said Schillerstrom.  “Specifically, the youth funds will be used to create a summer jobs program for 14 to 24 years olds.”

Through existing formulas, a breakdown of the funds DuPage is receiving will be: $2.7 million to assist dislocated workers; $1.5 million for youth programs and summer jobs; and $538,404 for adult job training.

“These funds will help our Workforce Development Division help those currently out of work get the tools they need to reenter the workforce,” said DuPage County Board Member Grant Eckhoff, who chairs the County’s Economic Development Committee.  “By working together throughout our communities, we can ensure that our region remains a strong and has the best trained workforce.”

Adult funds will be used to provide occupational and vocational training to adults with limited skills in high growth and high demand occupations.  Dislocated Worker funds will be used to provide occupational and vocational training for unemployed workers in sectors such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing and "green jobs".  Funds will also be used to provide incumbent worker training for companies to help retain them in DuPage County and help them expand.

For more information on the DuPage Workforce Development Division, please visit http://www.dupageco.org/edp/wdd.cfm.

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