EAST ST. LOUIS – To support the state’s ongoing pandemic response, the U.S. Department of Labor established two new grants that will create close to 1,300 jobs throughout Illinois. State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) announced Friday both St. Clair and Madison County will be awarded close to $1.7 million. 

“As a result of this pandemic, many unemployed people have been without work and have even considered changing careers. This is why an investment to recruit, train, and hire is so vital in supporting our state’s pandemic response,” Belt said. “I am proud to see that both St. Clair and Madison County will benefit from these grants to create job opportunities for local residents.” 

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Security (DCEO) has received two $8.3 million grants as part of the National Dislocated Worker Program, totaling a $16.6 million investment to place, train and hire Illinois workers to fill high-demand positions and assist local disaster relief programs. St. Clair County is receiving $225,200 from the disaster recovery grant and Madison County is receiving $1.4 million from the economic recovery grant. 

The state will distribute funding to 12 Local Workforce Innovation Areas to expand education and training opportunities throughout Illinois. DCEO will partner with local workforce agency partners to assist with filling high-need, temporary roles to help mitigate COVID-19 in communities, including contact tracers, COVID-19 protocol workers, building sanitization workers, temperature screeners, and food preparation and distribution workers.

Training and hiring for new workforce programs are expected to begin this fall. Local workforce agencies will prioritize applicants who have been laid off or otherwise lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis at the time of their application. A full list of available training and hiring opportunities is available at Get Hired Illinois.