CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker, along with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), has flung wide the doors for equity in construction jobs by kickstarting the Illinois Works Bid Credit Program. This initiative gives contractors a financial incentive to hire graduates from the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship programs, targeting those from communities long left on the margins of opportunity.
"With this new incentive, my administration is encouraging eligible contractors to hire apprenticeship graduates from historically disinvested communities in good-paying jobs in the construction trades," Pritzker stated. Contractors looking to get a piece of the state's juicy capital project pie can now earn these bid credits by bringing on and keeping Illinois Works graduates employed. According to an announcement on the state's official website, credits can be racked up as these workers tackle both state-funded and other construction projects.
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton chimed in, touting the program as a way to create jobs and uplift communities. "There is work to be done and Illinois has a talented and skilled workforce," said Stratton. Meanwhile, DCEO Director Kristin Richards is banking on the program not just filling contractor lineups, but ensuring pre-apprenticeship grads snag long-term, well-paying jobs statewide.
Contractors eyeing more competitive bids for future state capital projects can earn bid credits for up to six years for each graduate they hire and manage to retain, depending on the employee's chosen trade. Despite the process seemingly benefiting all parties involved, the path forward is a careful balancing act—contractors must still meet the state's apprenticeship targets. The Illinois government website notes that bringing these pre-apprenticeship graduates on board could be the key to maintaining compliance with these stringent requirements.
The Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program has been laying the groundwork since 2021 to diversify and expand access to apprenticeship programs, which provides a clearer shot at sustainable careers in construction for those often bypassed. "This program is essential to our continued efforts to increase equity and opportunity within our capital construction jobs across Illinois," Rep. William "Will" Davis (D-East Hazel Crest) told the state's news outlet. With the Rebuild Illinois capital plan promising a $45 billion overhaul, this trifecta of programs—the Pre-Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship Initiative, and now the Bid Credit—is poised to ensure that this construction renaissance leaves no one behind.
