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Need employees? Need training? Check out Illinois $40 million workforce training grants!

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Resume McHenry County Update!
Through our collaboration with McHenry County, we will continue to share important information on stimulus programs, COVID-19 updates, and where the county is opening up through Resume McHenry County Updates.
Please take a moment to scroll down to see new advancements this week as more and more are opening up in McHenry County. If MCEDC can be of any help, please call. Forward this email to your friends and family to help get the word out!

 

Illinois announces $40 million in workforce training funding

Illinois is investing $40 million into workforce grant programs aimed at assisting getting job seekers back to work, and therefore helping job sectors that have been hurt the most by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding will help fund training programs that expand jobseeker access to training, job placement, and support services while reducing barriers that hinder people from successfully re-entering the workforce.
Funding will focus the most on hard-hit sectors that have seen labor shortages since the pandemic, including but not limited to manufacturing, healthcare, arts and entertainment, waste management, retail, information technology, and the fields of transportation, distribution and logistics.
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity last week released a notice of funding opportunity for the first $20 million, which you can review by clicking here. The application deadline for this first round is 5 p.m. Oct. 29. The second notice to release the remaining $20 million is expected to take place next spring.

 

Additional $327 million pumped into utility and food assistance

Help is out there, both new and old, for people struggling to pay for food, rent, utilities, and other household expenses.
Illinois has released an additional $327 million in federal COVID relief funding to the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program, and the Community Services Block Grant Program, to assist Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with rent, food, utility, and other household expenses.
Households must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify. To apply, visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com, or call 833-711-0374. Hotline assistance is available in more than 30 languages.
Assistance with rent and utilities is also available through the McHenry County Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program; qualified county renters and landlords are eligible for up to 18 months of future assistance with rent and utilities, or up to 12 months in arrears. The online application portal, which includes the list of qualifications, can be found at www.McHenryRent.com. Renters who do not have Internet access can call the McHenry County Housing Authority at 815-338-7752, or Consumer Credit Counseling Services at 815-338-5757 for Spanish speakers. The webpage is accessible in Spanish as well.
People who need food assistance can find a list of McHenry County food pantries by clicking here.

 

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which has been observed since 1988 to raise awareness of the job needs of, and contributions made by, the disabled.
This year’s theme – “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion” – meshes well with Resume McHenry County’s mission. As we work to ensure that McHenry County’s businesses and residents cone back better than before from the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s dedicate ourselves this month to ensuring that no one gets left behind.
Business owners and managers looking for ideas to observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month can find them at the Department of Labor website here. Besides the long list of job sites we already highlighted in this week’s edition, people with disabilities have a job site all their own, called AbilityLinks, which can be found by clicking here.

 

A handy list of job search resources

Looking for a job? This article will put thousands of local and area job openings at your fingertips!
The Illinois Job Link website at illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov has more than 100,000 open positions posted. All you have to do is set up a free account to search for jobs, post your resume, and receive job alerts by email and text.
If a career in manufacturing sounds like a good job path for you, McHenry County businesses have set up a partnership to help you start the path to a good-paying job. The Manufacturing Pathways Consortium works together to ensure that local employers have a steady stream of highly skilled manufacturing workers to meet their needs. Visit their website at www.mfgpathways.com to learn more about the consortium, its training and job opportunities, and to read success stories from people who embarked on a new career path.
McHenry County College maintains the Hire a Scot job board for employers to post jobs. Don’t let the name fool you – the board is open to any McHenry County resident, not just MCC students and alumni. You can find the website at www.mchenry.edu/hireascot, and like Illinois Job Link site, registration is free.
The McHenry County Workforce Network participates in the Grow with Google Program, which since its 2017 creation has helped more than 5 million Americans wanting to start a career or hone their skills in data management and information technology. Participants can get professional certificates for entry-level jobs involving Google Data Analytics, Google Project Management, Google UX Design, and Google IT Support. No experience is necessary, and the training is flexible to fit your schedule. To apply, contact Jake Rohn, Workforce Network career planner, at 815-334-2785, or by email at JMRohn@mchenrycountyil.gov.
Last but not least, make sure to stop by the Workforce Network’s office at 500 Russel Court in Woodstock during business hours and pick up a free “job fair in a bag,” which is loaded with fliers from local companies looking to hire workers like yourself! Be sure to wear your mask indoors to comply with state COVID-19 protocols.

 

Workforce Network begins quarterly newsletter

Regular readers of Resume McHenry County’s weekly newsletter are very familiar with the McHenry County Workforce Network and the invaluable services they provide for job seekers and employers looking for talented workers.
But now, we have some friendly competition from the Workforce Network in the form of a newsletter of their own.
“Workforce in Action” is a new quarterly newsletter to help employers, businesses, and county residents know what services the network provides to help people navigate the challenges of today’s job market, and to relay success stories.
The newsletter will soon be posted online on the network’s website at www.mchenrycountyworkforce.com. But until then, you can get on their mailing list by emailing Director Jeff Poynter at JJPoynter@mchenrycountyil.gov.

 

‘Jumptoberfest’ comes to Norge Ski Club

With the lifting of COVID-19 capacity restrictions earlier this year, Resume McHenry County is featuring the return of its iconic attractions, and the founding of new ones.
What do you get when you cross Nordic ski jumping with a world-famous annual German festival of friendship and camaraderie?
You get a fun twist on one of McHenry County’s longest and most famous institutions – and with the added bonus of not having to shovel out your car and drive in the snow.
“Jumptoberfest,” the Norge Ski Club’s fall tournament, takes place this Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 11 a.m. both days, with the competition both days (children on Saturday and adults on Sunday) lasting from noon until 4 p.m.
Admission buttons cost $15 (children 12 and under get in free) and can be purchased through Friday by visiting the Norge website at www.norgeskiclub.org. The cost is $20 at the gate on the days of the event. Spectators are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets, and no dogs or carry-ins are allowed.
Food and drink – both fast food and traditional German fare – are available for purchase. And besides beer and wine, despite the early fall temperatures, the traditional Norge beverage of choice of Jägermeister will be available as well.
So come on down and cheer on our area ski jumpers, a dozen of whom are already competing at the national level for a shot at representing the USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

 
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Please take these four steps:
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Follow McHenry County Government On Social Media

Staying connected and informed is more important now than ever! Follow McHenry County on social media for regular updates on COVID-19 in our region, resources to help you navigate the pandemic, safety tips and more!

 

What is Resume McHenry County?

Resume McHenry County is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents. The goal is to ensure a successful reopening of our economy so that we can return to our lifestyles safely and responsibly.