Resources are being made available to help hundreds of former Champion Laboratories employees return to work after the company’s closure announcement last month.
Nearly 1,000 workers were permanently displaced when First Serv revealed plans to shut down its Edwards County operations, ending decades of manufacturing employment in the area.
On Monday’s WSJD Morning Show, Angel McGuire, Program Director of Adult Education for Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, said local agencies quickly organized to help workers transition into new careers. She says the response from displaced employees has been encouraging, with many eager to return to work or explore new training opportunities.
McGuire said the impact of the Champ is being felt in many circles...
McGuire says the effort began with a career fair in Albion, and continues with rapid response assistance now being offered through the Workforce Development Center at Frontier Community College.
She says the program connects displaced workers with job opportunities, training programs, and industry-recognized credentials through partnerships with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WADI, and CEFS.
McGuire says workers attending the sessions can meet with workforce officials, including Southern 14 Workforce Development Board Executive Director Pam Barbees, as well as employers and IECC staff who can help guide them into new career pathways.
McGuire also noted that IECC Adult Education offers free classes and testing, allowing workers to build new skills while continuing to work.