US Department of Labor awards $1.8M in funding to continue employment, training services to combat Illinois’ opioid crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1,866,667 in incremental funding to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to support job creation and workforce training services in 13 counties affected significantly by widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the award is the second allocation of a $5.6 million National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant awarded in July 2019. This funding will serve eligible individuals in Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeWitt, Jo Daviess, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Macon, Ogle, Putnam, Whiteside and Will counties.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Opioid Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants create temporary jobs and provide services to reintegrate workers affected by the crisis and train individuals to work in mental health treatment, addiction treatment and pain management.