Federal grant could help Illinois high school students start trade apprenticeships

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Thousands of Illinois high school students will soon have more opportunities for hands on experience with heavy machinery thanks to a new federal grant.

Workforce development leaders say they are excited to see a sustainable model where students have a pipeline to long term careers in the industry.

Backhoe, excavator — Workforce shortages for diesel technicians and heavy equipment operators are expected to nearly double in the next decade due to retirements and career changes.
via Storyblocks

"Whether that's working as technicians, whether that's in the operators or getting into construction manufacturing, all of these jobs are interconnected," said Eric Hill, CEO of the Youth Workforce Development Foundation. "The skillsets that our students are learning right here in our high school programs across the country are so invaluable."

Hill said the Biden administration is providing more than $245 million in grants to offer training programs and career focused pathways events. This comes as workforce shortages for diesel technicians and heavy equipment operators are expected to nearly double in the next decade due to retirements and career changes.

"There is so much demand and need, especially post pandemic, connecting the students with those career opportunities at all levels," said Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). "There are some that will go to higher education and there are those that wants to go into vocational and technical. There are jobs now."

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) ensured the state received a significant chunk of the new funding. They believe the grant program can provide students with additional training to help pursue successful careers and strengthen America's middle class.

"These private employers that AED represents are going to snap up these people right away," Krishnamoorthi said. "They're going to snap them up and put them into jobs, and then they're going to pay taxes. Those taxes are going to support our community and it becomes a virtuous cycle."

Lincoln Land Community College and South Elgin High School each received close to $8 million in funding through the Apprenticeships Build America Program.

"About 38% of our new apprentices have four-year college education for a lot of the new apprentices," said Marc Poulos of Operating Engineers Local 150. "But that isn't to say that there isn't room for a whole lot of folks that don't choose that four-year college track."