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Workforce Investment Act
What is WIA?
This Act provides financial assistance for education and training so that individuals can re-enter the workforce in jobs that will allow them to financially support themselves and their families. WIA funding is designed to train people in short-term certificate or associates degree programs that will make them more marketable for occupations that are in high growth within the local area. By training the workforce in these high growth areas, workers are more likely to find better paying jobs and employers are more likely to have their staffing needs fulfilled.
View the complete list of WIA approved training programs.pdf (PDF 10KB) at Joliet Junior College.
Eligibility for Funding
Training and education programs are provided through Joliet Junior College as well as other community colleges and private training institutions.
Training Eligibility
Recognize yourself in any of these scenarios? You may be eligible if you:
- Were laid-off, downsized, or company went out of business
- Unemployed and struggling to find a job
- Job searching for a long time with little or no results
- Underpaid, underemployed or under trained
- Your education or skills don’t match your career interest
- Self-employed for many years and now faced with looking for new employment
- Youth ages 18-21 years and in need of education or training beyond high school
Information Sessions
WIA Training funding is available to those who are determined eligible. To find out more about eligibility requirements for training funding you will need to attend a free information session at:
Will County:
Please call Workforce Services Division of Will County at (815) 727-4444 or visit www.jobs4people.org
Grundy County:
Please call Grundy Workforce Services at (815) 942-1552 or visit www.grundyworkforce.com
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Building Workers, Constructing Lives
Download a flyer (PDF 43KB)
Joliet Junior College, in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board of Will County and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is offering the Building Workers, Constructing Lives program.
This new program will expand the number of people in historically underrepresented populations, such as females and minorities, who enter and complete building trades apprenticeship programs and achieve journey-level status within a union.
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Career Seekers
Career Seekers is a club for youth ages 15-21 who meet WIA eligibility can participate in work readiness and leadership sessions including: interactive interviewing, goal setting, communication, career exploration, stress management, job shadowing, basic skills, conflict resolution, and much more. No cost to Will County eligible youth.
Find out more at the Career Seekers Web Site.
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Castle Worldwide Testing Center
(Joliet 815-280-1416 and Morris 815-942-0566)
Workforce Development is a testing facility for Castle Worldwide www.castleworldwide.com Castle administers professional certifications and licensing exams for a wide variety of professional associations and government agencies. Many of the exams are related to healthcare, business, safety, and design.
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VETERAN WORKFORCE CENTER
The Veteran Workforce Center will assist veterans with making the transition from military into civilian occupations. Free workshops are offered on Wednesdays.
See the flyer for more information (PDF)
- The Veteran Education Benefits workshop will provide veterans and their families with information on their military education benefits.
- The Career Assessment workshop will guide veterans in identifying
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Will County Work Certified Training
Approximately 50 specific competencies are included in this 2 week program that covers work maturity/employability, academic performance, occupational and technical skills, and general business concepts.
In addition, assessments are made in "universal competencies," which include:
- demonstration of attendance and punctuality
- demonstration of proper grooming
- demonstration of respect of authority when interacting with a supervisor
- demonstration of effective interpersonal skills when interacting with co-workers
Additional topics included in the 60-hours are reading comprehension, customer service, business math, general business knowledge, work and employability job skills, business tools and computers and more.
For more information about this unique program, please call Workforce Services Division of Will County at (815) 727-4444.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PlB9I3pPcKamryy7wID1Hw_3d_3d
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ACT WorkKeys is an assessment system that measures "real world" job skills that employers believe are critical to job success. Joliet Junior College is your site to attain the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certification.
The WorkKeys System is also often used by employers and organizations to assess prospective or current employees in many workforce skills areas. If you are representing an organization that is interested in using WorkKeys please contact us for more information.
Parapro flyer.pdf
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