Rep. Cheri Bustos presents ceremonial check to jump-start the Cradle to Career Initiative
Peoria, IL (10/20/2022) — Rep. Cheri Bustos presented a ceremonial check for $500,000 to Illinois Central College (ICC) President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey today at ICC's Peoria Campus.
The check represented funding recently announced by Rep. Bustos' office to jump-start the Peoria Cradle to Career Initiative. The project lays the foundation for community revitalization of the 61605 neighborhood, in order to address the critical needs of children and families.
"My top priority has always been to bring taxpayer dollars back home to our communities, and I was proud to be the top House Democrat in securing community project funding for FY2022 - including this critical project with Illinois Central College," said Congresswoman Bustos. "We know the community in the Peoria 61605 ZIP code has wonderful neighborhood and faith-based organizations, but they need support to continue to lift up the families they serve. That's why I was proud to secure this funding to help take the next steps in delivering what our Peoria families need to succeed."
"This initiative is a rare opportunity to fully explore and document the complex needs of Peoria's southside residents," said Mayor Rita Ali. "It is the precursor to a comprehensive strategy to match those needs with services and opportunities that transform lives and revitalize neighborhoods."
The PNC Foundation also committed over $70,000 to support a Family Resource Navigator. For more than a decade, the PNC Foundation has supported Illinois Central College in its efforts to advance academic success and accessibility to education for adults in the region.
"PNC understands the role education plays in fueling economic and social mobility. Our support for the initiative and specifically the role of the Family Resources Navigator emphasizes our ongoing commitment to empower families with resources such as counseling and assistance. These are paths that can help them better navigate their well-being, self-management, workforce readiness and other critical support needed to break the cycle of poverty and gain economic independence," said Brian Ray, PNC Regional President of central Illinois.
Added ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, "Illinois Central College is proud to spearhead the Jump-Starting the Peoria Cradle to Career Initiative. Through assessments of each family's education, workforce training, employment, housing, healthcare, and other needs, a regional plan will be launched to help 61605 residents become the productive and successful community contributors they can be."
Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools also spoke in support of the project.
The initial funding for Jump-Starting Cradle to Career Initiative lays the groundwork for the reapplication of a $30 million U.S. Department of Education Promise Neighborhood Grant.
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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 college or university. For more information on ICC, visit icc.edu.
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