Two Illinois communities are in line for a financial boost from the federal government, with an eye on revamping local employment landscapes. Governor JB Pritzker announced today that Decatur has been selected as a finalist for a grant under the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program while Springfield will receive planning funds, both targeted to pump up jobs in economically stressed areas, as reported by the Illinois government’s official news release.
"The CHIPS Act and the Biden-Harris Administration continue to open doors for Illinois working families, and the Recompete Plan will help ensure economic development impacts every community, including those who have historically faced barriers to employment," Pritzker said, praising the initiative which is part of a larger endeavor to support areas where employment for prime-age workers lags behind the national average, the Springfield Economic Empowerment Project mirror this intent, hoping to create connections to worthy jobs in diverse and persistently distressed communities. While the city of Decatur and Richland Community College have teamed up for the Decatur Recompete Plan, a scheme focusing on training residents for roles in burgeoning industries such as electric vehicle and precision fermentation manufacturing.
Decatur emerged as a contender for a hefty payout, being one of the 22 finalists out of 565 applicants, and now has the chance to secure between $20 to $50 million in implementation funding. This recognition comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and signals a nod to the city's strategy for employment creation in communities countrywide that have been historically underserved. The city of Springfield, in parallel, is charting its course toward a similar grant, armed with the preparation funds to refine its proposal.
In a testament to the collaborative spirit driving this effort, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo commended the grant recipients' plans as being an array of inspiring solutions designed to foster jobs, stimulate economic growth, and tap into the potential of communities neglected for too long. "Recompete helps fulfill President Biden's promise that no community in America will be left behind as we continue to grow our nation’s economy and invest in American workers," she remarked while Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves joined in hailing the program's commitment to equitability and job creation that aims to give more Americans a fair shot at success.
Political figures and local leaders alike have voiced their support for the program's transformative promise for Illinois. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted the state's wealth of skilled workers eager to partake in new industries, while her colleague U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) focused on the value of strategic investment in revitalizing local economies, and ultimately illuminating a brighter future for the residents of Springfield and Decatur. Jenny Scanlon, Vice Chair of Innovate Illinois and President and CEO of UL Solutions, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones also chimed in, commending the drive towards innovation, job growth, and the steadfast efforts of community colleges and networks gearing towards prolonged economic development.
