HIRE360 celebrated the graduation of the first-ever Kane County cohort of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, expanding access to union construction opportunities as demand for skilled trades workers continues growing statewide.

The graduation celebration brought together workforce leaders, labor representatives, community organizations, training partners, families, and supporters to recognize the accomplishments of the 22 graduates and the continued expansion of workforce development opportunities across Kane County.

“It’s exciting to see programs like this creating real opportunities for residents here in Kane County,” said State Representative Barbara Hernandez of the 50th District. “This graduation reflects the kind of workforce investment that helps connect residents to good-paying careers while strengthening the workforce pipeline our region depends on.”

The Kane County program, based in Aurora, was launched in partnership with the North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute, Painters District Council No. 30, which provided training and apprenticeship readiness preparation for participants, alongside support from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

“These graduates put in the work, earned industry-recognized certifications, and took an important first step toward long-term careers in the union construction trades,” said Jay Rowell, executive director of HIRE360. “Thanks to the partnership and training support from the Painters District Council No. 30, programs like this help connect Kane County residents to apprenticeship opportunities while helping meet the growing demand for skilled workers across Illinois.”

The graduating cohort completed the nine-week training program, earning industry-recognized certifications and hands-on preparation designed to connect participants directly to registered union apprenticeship opportunities in the construction trades.

Participants received training that included OSHA-10, First Aid/CPR, Fall Protection Awareness certification, apprenticeship readiness preparation, job readiness workshops, MC3 curriculum instruction, and exposure to multiple union career pathways through site visits and hands-on industry engagement.

“One of the most rewarding parts of this program is seeing participants take what they learned over these nine weeks and begin transitioning directly into the trades,” said Stephen Lefaver, director of apprenticeship and training at the North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute, Painters District Council No. 30. “We already have graduates from this cohort being hired by union finishing contractors and entering apprenticeship programs, which speaks to the level of commitment these participants brought to the program and the demand for skilled workers across the industry.”

The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program is funded in part through the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act, created under Governor JB Pritzker’s $45 billion capital plan to strengthen Illinois’ construction workforce pipeline.

“Before joining the program, I was looking for a stable career path and didn’t know how to break into the trades,” said Kobbe Anderson, a graduate of the Kane County cohort. “This program gave me hands-on experience, certifications, and exposure to apprenticeship opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It gave me confidence and showed me this is a career I can build a future in.”