(Chicago, IL…) The House Labor Committee is holding two hearings on job training in Illinois. Committee chair, State Representative Larry McKeon (D-34) called the subject matter hearings, "There is a need to have a detailed look at workforce development and job training. Job training is a mechanism to maintaining the economic viability and competition while handling ever present changes of information is necessary to maintain productivity." The hearings in two locations will address on a statewide basis what has to be done to make current workforce development funding more effective.

 The State Agenda for Community Economic Development (SACED) has worked to develop a base of support for job training for all levels of industry in order to maintain Illinois' competitiveness. Bob Wordlaw, SACED chair said, "We welcome the chance to bring people from across the state to two legislative forums to underline the importance of job training."

 While large companies have internal mechanisms to perform job training mostly with college trained employees, public funded efforts have focused on small and medium-sized companies. Low-skilled, low-waged workers, the unemployed and those leaving public assistance programs cannot move into jobs paying a living wage without training that improves their skills. Often these programs are more generalized and are aimed at moving the person to be positioned for entry-level jobs. Later the person will be in a position for higher paying jobs.

 According to the Governor's office, Illinois currently has 30 different programs spending $800 million annually. Often there is insufficient information among this array of programs to know the true nature of their economic value

Who: The House Labor Committee will hear from these witnesses: Margaret Blackshere - AFL-CIO, BruceBraker - Tooling and Manufacturers. Association, Esther Nieves - Erie House, Brenda Palms-Barber - North Lawndale Employment Network, Gene Cottini - Manager of Training for S & C Electric, Anita Flores - Jane Addams Resource Corporation, William Leavy, David Gerali, James Medley - Gerali Custom Design, Commissioner Jackie Edens - Mayors Office Workforce Development, Tim Leahy - Chicago Federation of Labor, Jim Nelson - Illinois Department of Employment Security, Phoebe Helm - President of Truman College, John Plunkett - Suburban Job Link, Susie Bigham Morris - Mattie Belle(an environmental consulting firm and the LEED Council)

• Where: James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph, Room 16-503
• When: Tuesday, September 17, 2002, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
• 9:30 AM Media availability in the hearing room

For Immediate Release		For Further Information, Contact:
September 13, 2002		Doug Dobmeyer, 773/338-9825, Cell: 312/315-6887

(Chicago, IL…) The House Labor Committee is holding two hearings on job training in Illinois. Committee chair, State Representative Larry McKeon (D-34) called the subject matter hearings, "There is a need to have a detailed look at workforce development and job training. Job training is a mechanism to maintaining the economic viability and competition while handling ever present changes of information is necessary to maintain productivity." The hearings in two locations will address on a statewide basis what has to be done to make current workforce development funding more effective.

The State Agenda for Community Economic Development (SACED) has worked to develop a base of support for job training for all levels of industry in order to maintain Illinois' competitiveness. Bob Wordlaw, SACED chair said, "We welcome the chance to bring people from across the state to two legislative forums to underline the importance of job training."

While large companies have internal mechanisms to perform job training mostly with college trained employees, public funded efforts have focused on small and medium-sized companies. Low-skilled, low-waged workers, the unemployed and those leaving public assistance programs cannot move into jobs paying a living wage without training that improves their skills. Often these programs are more generalized and are aimed at moving the person to be positioned for entry-level jobs. Later the person will be in a position for higher paying jobs.

According to the Governor's office, Illinois currently has 30 different programs spending $800 million annually. Often there is insufficient information among this array of programs to know the true nature of their economic value

 Who: The House Labor Committee will hear from these witnesses: Hazel Loucks - Deputy Governor for Workforce Development, Governor's Office, Bob Miller - GCIU, Michael Ayers - Illinois State Chamber, Chuck Stewart Illinois Workforce Partnership/Rock Island representative from Peoria, Pam McDonough - Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Rod Nunn - Illinois Department of Employment Security, Rick Larison - Director of Performance Management, Governor's Office, Bob Wordlaw - SACED, Professor Dan Lewis - Northwestern University, Professor Roger Beck - Southern Illinois University, and Kelley Giesing (Quincy) - Day Care Action

• Where: Statehouse, Room 114
•  When: Thursday, September 19, 2002, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
•  9:30 AM Media availability in the hearing room