Introducing Workforce Development Opportunities
How organizations communicate the full range of workforce development options to employers.
Business Career Services Illinois
- Workforce development is explained in the context of the larger ecosystem, including partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations.
- Employers are introduced to available resources, such as American Job Centers, funding streams, and collaborative opportunities.
- Presentations and discussions highlight how various ecosystem components work together to meet employer needs.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Deb Lawrence in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Cara Collective
- During initial employer conversations, Cara highlights its broader advocacy for workforce inclusion, including addressing digital divides and the need for local hiring in emerging industries.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Tim Loeffler in 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
- BRED Specialists provide employers with an End of Year Report as an initial introduction to workforce development opportunities. To ensure that employers are not overwhelmed with information, a Specialist will provide an overview of the various opportunities that are available and will continue to educate the employer about the ecosystem over time. Specialists work with employers to assess their needs and provide more targeted information about programs and other business services.
- The Partnership hosts various events where employers are present. Following these events, employers are sent a survey that includes questions that will allow them to request business services from The Partnership.
- Employers are encouraged to visit the TPM Academy website to access virtual and in-person training facilitated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) approach. The TPM approach teaches leaders to create career pathways for workers with talent pipelines that are aligned with dynamic business needs.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services
- DFSS introduces workforce opportunities through delegate agencies and partnerships, such as Skills for Chicagoland’s Future and RiseKit.
- The organization shares information about workforce development options verbally or through written materials during conversations.
- The focus is on long-term impact and career pathways rather than temporary jobs, emphasizing readiness and consulting with employers.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Lisa Hampton, Chadra Lang, and Mark Sanders in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
- Employers are directed to resources like Illinois WorkNet, which provides high-level overviews of training programs and tax credit opportunities.
- Employers are introduced to workforce programs tailored to meet hiring needs, such as On-the-Job Training (OJT), Class-Sized Training, Customized Training, and Incumbent Worker Training. Cook County actively connects businesses with these opportunities to provide financial support and ensure workforce readiness. The approach prioritizes the practical alignment of programs with employers’ immediate workforce challenges.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Michael Thompson in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Corporate Coalition
- Employers that are not a good fit for the Fair Chance Hiring Cohort are referred to other workforce programs, such as Generation Work and Talent Rewire.
- The Corporate Coalition, Cara Plus, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, and CWFA meet weekly to maintain an updated list of workforce resources for employer referrals.
- If an employer’s interest extends beyond fair chance hiring, they are provided materials on alternative workforce development programs.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Steph Dolan in 2025. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Harper College
- Harper College introduces workforce development as an interconnected system of services, including apprenticeships, customized training, and professional education.
- Employers are guided toward the most relevant workforce programs based on their needs, with referrals to other departments when appropriate.
- Harper College emphasizes its role as a training provider within a broader workforce ecosystem, explaining how apprenticeship models align with industry needs.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Besa Sadiku in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Illinois Department of Rehabilitative Services
- Partnerships and the ability to connect employers with other workforce development entities for broader solutions are highlighted.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Biswa Phuyal in 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
National Able Network
- Business Services Representatives share a brochure with employers that provides an overview of National Able Network’s workforce solutions.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Matt Weiss in 2024 and 2025. This content was approved by the organization in March 2025.
Northern Illinois University Workforce Policy Lab
- Workforce specialists introduce employers to various workforce programs, including apprenticeships, job placement services, and training incentives.
- Employer conversations highlight multiple workforce development options rather than focusing solely on apprenticeships.
- The workforce ecosystem is framed as a collaborative system that includes local workforce boards, community colleges, and business service teams.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Jennifer Foil in 2025. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Per Scholas
- Conversations introduce employers to the broader workforce development ecosystem, emphasizing the variety of resources and organizations available to support their hiring needs.
- Employers are guided to understand how workforce development initiatives address industry challenges, such as increasing diversity, expanding talent pools, and reducing hiring costs.
- The organization positions itself as part of a larger network of workforce development entities, ensuring employers see value beyond a single provider.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Kelsey Briggs-Dineen in 2025. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Pyramid Partnership Inc
- Pyramid Partnerships introduces the workforce development ecosystem by highlighting its role in connecting employers with other key partners.
- Employers are informed about the wide range of services available, such as training programs, tax incentives, and customized recruitment solutions.
- They use case studies to demonstrate how workforce development programs can be tailored to meet specific business needs.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Kelly Brown in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
scaleLIT
- Introduction is tailored to employer needs, focusing on benefits rather than program intricacies.
- Employers are not burdened with understanding funding streams; they are informed only of applicable services in the workforce ecosystem.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Becky Raymond in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
World Business Chicago
- WBC introduces the workforce ecosystem by framing it as a network of interconnected resources, including city agencies, educational institutions, workforce boards, and community organizations.
- Employers are introduced to workforce development resources based on their specific needs, such as access to talent pipelines, training partnerships, or hiring initiatives. WBC provides guidance on which programs align best with an employer’s industry and workforce strategy.
- WBC facilitates connections between employers and workforce partners by making direct introductions, explaining available funding sources, and highlighting best-fit opportunities within the ecosystem. When appropriate, they arrange meetings between employers and workforce providers to explore potential collaborations.
This content is based on interviews or email correspondence with Tana Francellno in 2024. This draft content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Points of alignment
This section provides an overview of practices that are similar across organizations.
- During initial employer conversations, organizations typically highlight methods for an employer to connect with other partners within the broader workforce ecosystem.
- As the relationship with an employer evolves, organizations continue to educate the employers about workforce development opportunities that become available.
- Organizations guide employers to resources that offer comprehensive information about training programs and tax credit opportunities available through various providers within the workforce development ecosystem.
