Title
Joint resolution approving a subaward amendment agreement with the College of Lake County for Workforce Development to provide services under the Climate Equity Jobs Act (CEJA) Workforce Hub Project authorizing an emergency appropriation in the amount of $697,862 and increasing the authorized full-time headcount for the Workforce Development Department by three positions.
Staff Summary
• Workforce Development entered into a subaward recipient agreement with College of Lake County to provide comprehensive training and support services to prepare individuals for careers in clean energy and related industries in accordance with the Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program Grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
• The subaward recipient agreement was executed on November 27, 2024, in the amount of $2,052,138.
• The services focus efforts within the identified communities of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew (R3) Zones including North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion and the Equity Investment Eligible communities of North Chicago, Waukegan, Zion, Gurnee, Highland Park, Highwood, Mundelein and Buffalo Grove.
• The subaward amendment agreement extends the performance period through June 30, 2026, and increases the award in the amount of $697,862 for a total award of $2,750,000.
• With the additional funds, Workforce Development will add three new positions, a CEJA Program Manager, CEJA Participant Transition Specialist and a CEJA Employment Specialist to meet the demand of the number of participants being served and recruit employers hiring for clean energy jobs or related occupations.
• The positions will be eliminated if or when this funding is no longer available and no other funding source has been identified.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Workforce Development entered into a subaward recipient agreement with College of Lake County to provide comprehensive training and support services to prepare individuals for careers in clean energy and related industries in accordance with the Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program Grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and
WHEREAS, the subaward recipient agreement was executed on November 27, 2024, in the amount of $2,052,138; and
WHEREAS, the services focus efforts within the identified communities of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew (R3) Zones including North Chicago, Waukegan and Zion and the Equity Investment Eligible communities of North Chicago, Waukegan, Zion, Gurnee, Highland Park, Highwood, Mundelein and Buffalo Grove; and
WHEREAS, the subaward amendment agreement extends the performance period through June 30, 2026, and increases the award in the amount of $697,862 for a total award of $2,750,000; and
WHEREAS, With the additional funds, Workforce Development will add three new positions, a CEJA Program Manager, CEJA Participant Transition Specialist and a CEJA Employment Specialist to meet the demand of the number of participants being served and recruit employers hiring for clean energy jobs or related occupations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Lake County Board or their designee is hereby authorized to execute the necessary documents to receive $697,862 of Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program Grant funds through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to administer the program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that an emergency appropriation in the amount of $697,862 is hereby authorized in the Workforce Development Department budget identified on the listing of expense and revenue budget modifications attached hereto and made part hereof; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the authorized headcount in the Workforce Development Department is increased by three full-time positions.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on October 14, 2025.