The Workforce Connection

Have you signed up yet for our Spring Job Fair? Thursday, March 20, 2025, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the UW Sports Factory, 305 South Madison Rockford, IL 61104 Registration is available to the first 50 employers. Questions, please call 779-256-2593. Employers- register here: https://lnkd.in/ghN25Dcr

?? Next Week, February 17th-February 22nd, is Entrepreneurial Week across the state of Illinois. Across our region, several events will be hosted for GREAT (Greater Rockford Entrepreneurial and Training) Week. Valuable information will be shared for businesses looking to grow or for entrepreneurs looking to open a new business. ?? Check out all the events and attend! ?? Link to sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gY5Z6PXN

Join us and learn about our services for employers in Stephenson County, including: ?On the Job Training (OJT) ?Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) ?Work Experience (WEX) ?Apprenticeships To reserve your spot, please call us at 779.256.2597, or visit tinyurl.com/TWCBreakfast.

We are so excited for the future in solar energy in Rockford! ?? Congratulations to Zion West Enterprise starting solar energy classes yesterday! Connect with them to get into the next class! https://lnkd.in/g6-Dz5Q8

The Workforce Connection is here to help job seekers and employers! United Facilities Inc, a leader in distribution and logistics, faced a challenge in filling key warehousing roles. The company needed workers with specialized skills in Operations for their brand-new location in Belvidere, IL. Enter The Workforce Connection and our On-the-Job Training (OJT) program. We partnered with United Facilities to craft a strategy that addressed their hiring and training needs. The OJT program offered a win-win solution: ? Cost-Effective Training: As a result of proper training and high employee retention, the OJT program allowed United Facilities to save money on training and onboarding costs. ? Custom Training Plans: The program allowed United Facilities to design training tailored to their unique processes and equipment, ensuring new hires learned the exact skills needed. ? Talent Matching: We assisted United Facilities identifying candidates who were eager to learn but lacked the training and experience to work within United Facilities location. And the results speak for themselves! ? Improved Workforce Quality: Over 80% of OJT participants successfully completed training and transitioned into long-term employment. ? Community Impact: The partnership strengthened the local workforce by providing meaningful career pathways for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Courtney Chesser, Human Resources Generalist, stated that, “Partnering with The Workforce Connection’s OJT program was a game-changer for United Facilities. It allowed us to grow our team with skilled, dedicated workers while minimizing turnover and training costs. The support we received from the workforce board was incredible, and we’ve gained employees who are not only trained but invested in our company’s success.” We are so happy to partner with United Facilities to provide additional opportunities. If you are looking to partner and accessthese services, which are always free, connect with us today!

We hope to see you next week in Freeport at the Stephenson County Job Fair! #HotJobs For more details or to see the employers, check out the event here: https://lnkd.in/g2Sc3bwP

We were so proud that Mayor Thomas McNamara declared September 2024 “Workforce Development Month” in the City of Rockford, Illinois! See what it means in the proclamation below: Proclamation from Mayor Thomas P. McNamara, City of Rockford Whereas, investment in the education, training, and career advancement of Rockford’s workforce is crucial to the ability of the city and the state to compete in the global economy, and to achieve echo and economic equity; and Whereas, The Workforce Connection, Goodwill Industries, Rock Valley College, and the workforce partners of the city of Rockford and it’s workforce system help job seekers identify their interests and skills, and assist them in developing a strong job search and training strategy, leading to fulfilling employment; and Whereas, aligning the workforce development system with employer needs and preparing job seekers to enter family sustaining employment are among the strategies to address employment and economic disparities based on race, disability, age, gender, veteran status, national origin, or justice system involvement; and Whereas The Workforce Connection and its partners prioritize collaboration among all members of the local workforce development system including industry partners, workforce development entities, educational institutions, labor unions, and community based organizations, which is crucial in preparing a workforce to meet the labor needs; and Whereas The Workforce Connection’s workforce development system proactively engages customers, works to achieve equity, and focuses on flexibility to provide tailored resources to help meet the needs of all Rockford employers and residents seeking employment; Now, therefore, I, Thomas P McNamara, as mayor of the City of Rockford do hereby proclaim the month of September 2024 to be “Workforce Development Month” in Rockford, Illinois and encourage all citizens to recognize the role our local workforce development agencies play in supporting workforce and growing our economy. #WorkforceDevelopmentMonth

Employers: Join us at The Workforce Connection's Fall Job Fair in Belvidere, IL. This event will be held: October 16, 2024 1PM-5PM (set up from 12PM-1PM) Community Building Complex of Boone County 111 W. 1st Street, Belvidere, IL 61008 Space is available for the first 40 employers who register! Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gbjkrp7g #HotJobs

Happy #815Day! We love supporting the 815 through workforce development, training, & employment opportunities. Huge shout out to all of our employers & partners in the 815! You are what makes this community great.

Recently, Tad More Tailoring & Sustainability Institute created a new Sewing Apprenticeship program, the first of its kind in the state! Andrea (pictured on the right with Business Services Specialist Kelly) was the first person to enroll in Tad More Sustainability Institute's Sewing Apprenticeship! She is currently in her first-year of the apprenticeship to become an Industrial Sewing Machine Operator. She regularly attends classroom studies and has hands-on learning for the tasks required to earn her certification. Prior to coming into The Workforce Connection programs, Andrea was operating her own business. She really loves working with animals, but she needed another career path on her way to self-sufficiency. We all want to give a shout out to Andrea; she is the first, but there will be many more apprentices to follow at Tad More! #Apprenticeships