Halpin secures $374,000 for Rock Island County Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

State Senator Mike Halpin has secured $374,000 to expand Rock Island County’s job training program.

“This program gives folks a shot at hands on experience with the financial support and guidance to get their foot in the door of a respectable career,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “If we want to rebuild our Western Illinois economy, we need the work force to do it. With plenty of bright young people looking for work, the trades offer a chance to support themselves, their families and their communities.”

The goal of the program is to create a qualified talent pipeline in the construction and building trades. Participants of the program attend tuition-free and receive a stipend and other support services to help enter the construction industry. Upon completion of the program, pre-apprentices receive industry-aligned certifications, which prepare and qualify them to continue to a registered apprenticeship program in one of the trades.

With the average cost of college in the U.S. rising, young people are increasingly interested in the trades. The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges increased 16% from 2022-2023. Pre-apprenticeships are a pathway for people in underrepresented populations to find good work, with nine in 10 pre-apprentices coming from underrepresented groups. These include women, Black people, Hispanic people, people with disabilities, and veterans. Over 80% of pre-apprentices completed their programs and experienced an averaged 92% increase in their annual earnings after completing the program.

“Illinois has wisely decided to invest in our future by betting on our young people,” said Halpin. “This investment will pay dividends by creating good jobs, skillful tradesmen and upstanding citizens.”

To see a full list of organizations receiving grant funding across the state, click here.