Workforce Board Awards Youth Grants

05/02/2008
The Grundy Livingston Kankakee Workforce Board recently awarded more than $422,000 to local youth programs from the federal Workforce Investment Act.   Of the total, $225,000 went to Kankakee County programs, $130,000 to Grundy and $67,000 to Livingston.

Kankakee County
Kankakee Community College Youth Program Services has been awarded $170,000 to provide services to disadvantaged youths. The program provides academic and career counseling, work experience and education assistance to youths in Kankakee County.

Options Center for Independent Living will receive $55,000 to serve youths with disabilities. The program offers mentoring, career counseling, job-shadowing and work experience to youths with disabilities residing in Kankakee County.

Grundy County
Young Professionals Network, a program of Joliet Junior College, has been awarded $130,000 to serve disadvantaged youths in Grundy County. The program promotes academic success and work readiness through career counseling, job-shadowing, work opportunities and mentoring.

Livingston County
Futures Unlimited, a community-based organization in Pontiac, will receive $26,000 to provide life skills instruction, career exploration, paid work experiences and job coaching to youths with disabilities in Livingston County.

Livingston Youth Program Services, a joint venture between Kankakee Community College and the Livingston County Commission on Children and Youth, will receive $41,000 to provide comprehensive support services and career counseling to disadvantaged youths in Livingston County.

Services are free to eligible individuals. Services may also include skill assessment, tutoring, completion of GED, career awareness, vocational counseling, classroom training, job search skills training and assistance, on-the-job training and job placement.

For more information on Workforce Investment Act youth programs, contact the Workforce Board at (815) 935-0074.