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Illinois Central College Receives $4.8 Million Grant from Round 2 of Good Jobs Challenge for IT Workforce Accelerator Program

ICC is one of 8 funded programs, the only institution to receive funding in both rounds, and the only single community college funded

by Amanda Lewis

East Peoria, IL (01/24/2025) — At a press conference held on January 24, Illinois Central College (ICC) announced that it is the recipient of a grant totaling over $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the second round of the EDA's Good Jobs Challenge. This funding will continue the impactful work of the IT Workforce Accelerator for an additional two years and create pathways for workers to be placed into good-paying IT jobs.

In 2022, ICC created an IT workforce development ecosystem in partnership with Bradley University and Eureka College to secure nearly $15 million in grant funding during the first round of the Good Jobs Challenge. Together, the three institutions launched the IT Workforce Accelerator, a local collaboration of industry partners, employers, community-based organizations, chambers of commerce, and economic development agencies focused on meeting employers' high-demand IT workforce needs through equity-based strategies to develop the region's available workforce. The program upskills current IT workers and connects workers who are new to the industry with opportunities to earn IT certifications at no cost in as little as four weeks, equipping them with the skills needed to fill gaps in the local workforce.

Since its creation in 2022, the IT Workforce Accelerator has certified nearly 800 individuals for high-quality IT jobs in fields including programming, networking, healthcare IT, and cybersecurity. The program consistently exceeds both enrollment and completion goals, driving success for local businesses and individuals.

"When individuals earn credentials that meet industry demands, it changes the trajectory of their lives and the lives of their families while growing the local workforce, expanding area businesses, and creating a more vibrant regional economy," said ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey. "The new Good Jobs Challenge grant will build upon the success of the IT Workforce Accelerator, enabling more individuals to gain access to high-demand, higher-wage jobs that will benefit them and our entire community."

ICC is the only institution to receive funding in both rounds of the Good Jobs Challenge and received the largest grant awarded in round two. The new grant will be used to support the IT Workforce Accelerator Sustainability Project and grow the IT workforce ecosystem in Central Illinois. The initiative will continue to be supported by a growing partnership, including over 100 businesses and 65 stakeholders. It will focus on expanding employer-driven training and apprenticeships, as well as creating a self-sustaining, fee-for-service model to ensure the program's long-term success beyond the duration of the grant.

"This funding is a commitment to strengthen Illinois' IT workforce," said Senator Dick Durbin. "The Good Jobs Challenge will empower students at Illinois Central College to secure good-paying jobs in technology, bolster our economy, and help Illinois meet the needs of the 21st century."

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Illinois Central College is a two-year community college with campuses in East Peoria, Peoria and Pekin, Illinois, providing a high-quality, affordable education to prepare students to enter the workforce or to transfer to a four-year institution. ICC is the 2020 awardee of the National Community College Charles Kennedy Equity Award from ACCT, a 2022 and 2025 EDA Good Job Challenge Institution, and the Lead College for the state of Illinois' Workforce Equity Initiative. ICC also conducts original research in agricultural fields, including water quality and soil conservation. For more information, visit icc.edu.

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