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Senator Duckworth, Area Leaders Discuss Workforce Development


Senator Duckworth in PF
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Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—September 23, 2017. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted her efforts to support workforce development programs throughout Illinois at a roundtable yesterday with community leaders from Park Forest and the greater Chicago area. Duckworth discussed her Community College to Career Fund (CC2C) Act, which would encourage collaboration between small businesses and community colleges to develop workforce training programs and curricula that reduce the “skills gap” that makes it harder for graduates to find jobs and harder for employers to fill openings. The programs and curricula supported by Duckworth’s CC2C Act would better prepare students for careers with employers in their communities in high-demand industries like manufacturing, healthcare, clean energy and information technology.

“Every American deserves the chance to get ahead – the chance to get a quality education, build a career and support their family,” said Senator Duckworth. “Yet, far too many Americans struggle to access the training and education they need to secure a good-paying job, which hurts our economy and our country. Fortunately, commonsense legislation like the CC2C Act would help change that by creating new opportunities for Americans to get the training they need to work for local businesses in high-demand industries and manufacturers like ImageWorks. I look forward to continuing to do what I can to ensure all Americans have the chance to prepare for a career in the 21st century economy.”

Yesterday’s roundtable included participation from the President and CEO of ImageWorks, a Park Forest manufacturer that specializes in graphic design and the creation of unique marketing pieces. ImageWorks partners with a local community college, Prairie State College, to support the D227 Apprenticeship Program, which helps train young people for careers in the manufacturing industry.

Duckworth’s efforts to support workforce development programs are part of her work to revitalize economies in communities around the state. By pushing for investments in infrastructure, education programs and minority- and women-owned businesses, Duckworth seeks to support working families across Illinois, increasing access to jobs and opportunity, and helping provide community wealth that will stabilize neighborhoods struggling for a brighter future.

Sen. Duckworth PF Mtg
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Participants at the roundtable discussion included: Illinois State Representative Al Riley, Mayor of Park Forest John Ostenburg, President of Prairie State College (PSC) Dr. Terri Winfree, Manufacturing Careers Outreach Coordinator at Rich Township High School District 227 Mark Kramer, CEO and President of ImageWorks Manufacturing, Inc. Tom Becker, Executive Director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) Kristi DeLaurentiis, Director of Economic Development for the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation and the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Reggie Greenwood, Executive Director for Opportunity Advancement Innovation Mollie Dowling, Park Forest’s Director of Economic Development and Planning Hildy Kingma, Park Forest Village Manager Thomas Mick and Senior Advisor to Congresswoman Kelly Rick Bryant.

Click to watch the full meeting

Source: www.villageofparkforest.com


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