This blog post is a DRAFT chapter for a book being published by Origami Works Foundation. We will correct inaccuracies in the final book version. If you identify any inaccuracies, please let us know using this Feedback Form.
The prior chapter provided a general overview of workforce development. Think of it as a description of how the system could operate, in an ideal situation, anywhere in the country.
Now, let’s turn our attention to how workforce development actually does operate in a real-life, complex (and windy) city: Chicago, along with the surrounding area (suburban Cook County). Cook County has about 5 million residents, of which half are in the city of Chicago. The workforce development ecosystem across the city and surrounding suburbs is vast. Hundreds of millions of dollars are invested every year.
You may be wondering, “Why Chicago and Cook County?” We think it’s necessary to look at workforce development from a local perspective, because it is always a regional endeavor, dependent on local demographics, industries, and economic factors. Chicago makes a great case study because it is a large and diverse economy, with no single sector dominating more than 17% of employment.
The workforce development ecosystem in Chicago is rich in resources, and also complicated. Employers may encounter multiple entry points. Without a guide such as this book, many employers may be aware of only a fraction of the supports and services available.
“The Cook County workforce ecosystem is a complex mosaic. It has a variety of funding streams and service models that cater to diverse needs. There are a wealth of opportunities, but navigating the landscape can be challenging at times. The system can sometimes be fragmented, and this can hinder our ability to match employers with the resources they need efficiently.” Matt Bruce, Executive Director, Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance
The next section demystifies who Chicago and Cook County’s key players are, how they support employers and job seekers, and how the entities overlap and intersect. We’ll cover --
Key organizations in the local workforce development ecosystem
The role and flow of public and private funding
Examples of how Chicago area employers engage with the workforce ecosystem
Handy Hack: This chapter introduces and describes many organizations. It does not discuss when or how to engage with them, or how to select a partner. But don't worry - that information is covered (very thoroughly!) in subsequent chapters. In this chapter, plan to get an overview of the players and their functions - i.e., the "who" and the "what." You'll learn the "when and why" in Chapter 4, and the "how" in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6.
Leaders & Advocates
Here, we describe organizations that serve as leaders and advocates for workforce development in Chicago and suburban Cook County. You'll learn about --
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
World Business Chicago
Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance
Corporate Coalition
Chicago Jobs Council
There are additional leaders, including nonprofit organizations, philanthropic organizations, and employers. Here, we focus on the major organizations that aim to influence the overall Cook County workforce ecosystem. These organizations often serve as guides for employers, connecting them with programs and partners that meet their needs.
Let’s dive in and learn more about these organizations.
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
As we recall from the previous chapter, federal law requires states and local areas that receive funds from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding to create workforce development boards. Created in 2012, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership ("The Partnership") is the nonprofit umbrella organization that staffs and operates Cook County's board, named the Workforce Innovation Board. As required by U.S. Department of Labor guidelines, the board is composed of public and private sector leaders, organized labor, economic development, education, and community based organizations. The board is tasked with supporting innovative programs and strategies that support all the region’s workers.
With input from its Workforce Innovation Board, The Partnership is the designated administrator of federal workforce development funding for the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County. The organization also manages a diverse portfolio of initiatives funded by the state of Illinois, as well as corporations and philanthropy.
Fun Fact: With its combined federal, state, local, and private funding, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership runs the largest public workforce system in the country.
The Partnership supports three different organizational service models --
Service Model | Description | Facts |
American Job Centers (AJCs) | A national model established under WIOA that houses a full range of employment-related services, such as career counseling, training referrals, and resume and interview prep. The AJCs serve employers by connecting them with funding, hiring, training, and outplacement opportunities. | There are ten American Job Centers divided evenly between Chicago and suburban Cook County. |
Business services partner organizations, referred to in this case as “delegate agencies” | These agencies provide a variety of employment-related and training services for youth and adult job seekers. Interested workforce organizations apply each year to be selected as delegate agencies. | The Partnership typically funds between 60-65 annually. Example delegate agencies (as of 2023) include Metropolitan Family Services, New Moms, North Lawndale Employment Network, Revolution Workshop, and the Safer Foundation. |
Sector centers | Concentration of resources optimized to offer services to employers in high-demand sectors | As of this writing, there are four sector centers:
|
Overall, The Partnership coordinates a network of approximately 90 community-based organizations, American Job Centers, satellite sites, and sector centers.
Learn more about The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership on its website The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
The Partnership has supported thousands of Chicago and suburban Cook County employers, of all sizes and in all sectors and industries. For example, The Partnership --
Coordinates recruitment events
Connects employers to tax incentives and training reimbursement grants
Creates customized training plans for current employees and new hires
Facilitates workshops for staff impacted by layoffs, informing them of their rights, providing them with resources, and supporting their connection to other job opportunities
Analyzes and disseminates labor market information to project future job growth and wages
“Employers should partner with us to leverage pre-allocated Department of Labor funds designed for their hiring and development needs. One hundred percent of employers should understand the public workforce system, especially The Partnership's role as the main access point to these supportive funds.” George Wright, CEO, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development plays a crucial role in supporting employers, especially in suburban Cook County. The Bureau conducts workforce assessments and analyses to identify key industry sectors, emerging skill gaps, and workforce development needs. Based on these analyses, the Bureau prioritizes programming for sectors that are rich in job opportunities, and provides financial assistance for training programs, equipment purchases, and other workforce development initiatives.
“By collaborating with employers, we tailor workforce programs to meet real-world demands and promote a sustainable job market.” Irene Sherr, Deputy Bureau Chief, The Bureau of Economic Growth - Cook County
The Bureau also is a huge connector. Through its job fairs and online resources, the Bureau facilitates relationship building among employers, business services partners, and job seekers.
Learn more about the Bureau of Economic Development on the Cook County website.
World Business Chicago
World Business Chicago is Chicago’s public-private economic development agency.
World Business Chicago supports employers with relocation services and helps companies identify local, state, and federal financial incentives, tax abatement, and rebate programs. The organization also connects employers to local workforce development agencies that support hiring.
"When we speak with businesses, they are always asking where they can find talent. We serve as a connector for our business partners to that talent.” Tana Francellno, Director of Workforce Development, World Business Chicago
Learn more about World Business Chicago on their website.
Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance
The Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance (CWFA) was established in 2012 to facilitate larger and more coordinated investments in Chicago's workforce development ecosystem. A collaboration among private funders, foundations, and corporations, CWFA invests in initiatives that empower businesses and employees, promote workforce systems changes, and facilitate partnerships.
“Our mission is to unite funders, encourage shared investments, and navigate the shifting interests of philanthropy. This role demands adaptability and a knack for fostering collaboration in a fragmented workforce ecosystem. It's about initiating dialogue, connecting players, and catalyzing impactful change.” Matt Bruce, Executive Director, Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance
CWFA goes beyond funding the work of other organizations to lead innovation in the Chicago and Cook County workforce space. For example, CWFA has partnered with various entities (including Origami Works Foundation) to launch several ecosystem-wide resources --
Chicagoland CareerPathways, a searchable database of low-barrier career pathway options in the region
Talent Solutions Connector, a searchable database for employers to identify workforce development services and partners (more on this tool in Chapter 4)
The Innovation Nexus, an organization established to maintain and improve those tools, along with creating a space to foster continuous collaboration among workforce development stakeholders in Chicago and suburban Cook County
Another initiative facilitated by the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance and Cook County Bureau of Economic Development is the Network of Employer-Led Business Solutions (NEWS). NEWS convenes industry workforce “tables” where employers in healthcare, manufacturing, early childhood, and financial services come together to network, share resources, and develop common solutions. For example, the Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative convened local area hospitals, including Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medicine, University of Illinois Health, Advocate Aurora, and Northwestern Medicine, to identify and expand career mobility and pathway opportunities for frontline, patient-facing team members.
Learn more about Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, The Innovation Nexus, and NEWS.
Corporate Coalition of Chicago
The mission of the Corporate Coalition of Chicago is to help companies reduce racial and economic inequities to support a thriving regional economy.
"Members believe that to reduce long-standing economic and racial inequities and create a thriving economy, companies must stretch beyond their important philanthropic contributions and beyond the responsibility all have to help the nonprofit and public sectors. Firms must challenge 'business as usual' to create opportunities through their core business functions, including talent acquisition, employee support and advancement, site location, procurement, capital investments, and more." Brian Fabes, Managing Director, Corporate Coalition
In Chicago, many large corporations support civic efforts to improve the city. Through learning cohorts, webinars, and structured networking opportunities, the Corporate Coalition helps employers --
Hire employees who have arrest or conviction records
Hire and retain young employees of color
Create more supportive workspaces
Invest in community-led real-estate investment projects
Grow business operations regionally
Brian Fabes, Managing Director at Corporate Coalition, says that companies join them to do three main things:
Learn - Members have access to a wide range of exclusive information channels
Take action - Through initiatives to create a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable region
Be a leader - By creating a new culture of doing business in Chicago and, ultimately, across the country
Learn more about the Corporate Coalition of Chicago on their website.
Chicago Jobs Council
The Chicago Jobs Council (CJC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting employment opportunities and economic advancement for individuals facing barriers to employment.
CJC is not generally an employer-facing organization. It does, however, support the workforce ecosystem, so you may want to know about its efforts. Here's a summary of what CJC does and how it benefits employers --
Advocacy and Policy Development: CJC advocates for policies and programs that support workforce development, job training, and access to employment opportunities for disadvantaged populations.
Capacity Building: CJC provides training, technical assistance, and resources to organizations and agencies working to connect individuals with employment opportunities.
Research and Data Analysis: CJC conducts research and analysis on labor market trends, employment barriers, and best practices in workforce development.
Partnerships and Collaboration: CJC fosters partnerships and collaboration among employers, business services partners, government agencies, and community organizations to address workforce development challenges and create pathways to employment for individuals facing barriers.
Employer Engagement: CJC works to engage employers in efforts to expand job opportunities and promote inclusive hiring practices. This includes promoting awareness of the benefits of hiring individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Learn more about the Chicago Jobs Council
Overall, the Chicago Jobs Council contributes to creating a more vibrant and inclusive economy, by supporting workforce development ideas, initiatives, and organizations.
Educational Institutions
In this section, we provide an overview of the major entities and categories of educational institutions involved in Chicago and Cook County workforce development, including --
Chicago Public Schools
City Colleges of Chicago
Other community and career colleges
Four-year colleges and universities
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) strives to ensure that its students are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the workforce. Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, Chicago Public Schools actively engages with businesses and industry leaders to understand current and emerging workforce needs in Chicago.
One way CPS collaborates with employers is through its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. These programs offer students hands-on learning experiences and industry-aligned coursework in various fields, from healthcare and information technology to manufacturing and hospitality. By working closely with local businesses, CPS develops Career and Technical Education curricula that reflect industry standards and equip students with the technical skills and competencies sought after by employers.
Additionally, CPS partners with employers to provide work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and job shadowing. These experiences allow students to gain first hand exposure to different industries, build professional networks, and develop essential workplace skills. Through feedback and mentorship from employers, students acquire valuable insights into the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that are valued in the workplace--and employers gain access to a more educated pipeline of future talent.
Furthermore, CPS actively seeks input from employers through advisory boards and industry partnerships. These forums provide a platform for employers to share their expertise, identify workforce trends, and inform the development of curriculum and career pathways. For example, a partnership with local healthcare providers has led to the creation of specialized health sciences programs that prepare students for careers in nursing, allied health, and medical technology.
By fostering strong partnerships with employers, CPS ensures that its educational programs are responsive to the needs of Chicago's diverse industries and workforce. The district aims to prepare the next generation of talent to drive innovation, growth, and prosperity in our city and beyond.
City Colleges of Chicago
As Chicago's public community college system, City Colleges of Chicago (City Colleges or CCC) offers associate degrees, certifications, free GED classes, and free English as a second language courses. City Colleges has sought to align its curriculum with high-growth, in-demand industries, collaborating with industry leaders to address skills gaps.
City Colleges of Chicago invites employers to collaborate in three key ways:
Employer Advisory Partners help shape the institution’s curricula to match industry needs in areas such as tech, healthcare, and business, and ensure that courses stay relevant.
Through Program Partnerships, employers engage directly with students via career fairs, guest lectures, and mentorship, and offer insights into career paths.
As Talent Partners, employers provide internships and apprenticeships. This allows students to learn on the job and gain hands-on experience. (More about internships and apprenticeships in Chapter 4.)
City Colleges can help employers meet their hiring needs. Employers can post internship and job opportunities, engage in on-campus recruitment events, and seek referrals of qualified students and graduates for open positions.
“For employers, we aim to become the go-to solution for business needs in Chicago, central to talent acquisition and employee development.” Connie Rutledge, Director of Apprenticeship and Workforce Partnership Development, City Colleges of Chicago
City Colleges is comprised of seven institutions, each of which serves as a “Center of Excellence” for training and education in a particular industry or industries --
Advanced Manufacturing: Richard J. Daley College
Culinary, Hospitality, and Construction Technology: Kennedy-King College
Healthcare: Malcolm X College
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL): Olive-Harvey College
Education, Human, and Natural Sciences: Harry S Truman College
Business and Professional Services: Harold Washington College
Engineering and Computer Science: Wilbur Wright College
If you operate in one of these industries, developing a partnership with the relevant Center of Excellence will provide access to trained, qualified, ready-to-work candidates. Whether you make bulk hires or engage in more individualized, one-off hiring for specialized roles, the Centers can help you with your immediate and projected hiring needs.
Learn more about City Colleges of Chicago and their partnerships with employers on their website.
While City Colleges of Chicago is the largest community college system in the area, there are other career-focused colleges that collaborate with employers. See the map below for City Colleges locations as well as seven two-year institutions in suburban Cook County.
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Chicago and Cook County are home to many four-year colleges and universities, including world-class research institutions such as the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Most colleges and universities collaborate with employers to facilitate internships, job placements, and recruitment events, bridging the gap between academia and industry.
The region features several schools known for their high concentration of, and commitment to serving, diverse and underrepresented student populations, including low-income and first-generation students. For example, these schools may be sources of overlooked or underutilized talent pools --
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago State University
Governors State University
University of Illinois at Chicago
Community-Based Partners & Providers
Chicago is home to a robust network of community based organizations and training providers that offer a variety of overlapping business services designed to support both job seekers and employers across the employment lifecycle. Here we describe a few categories of organizations, and highlight a few major players who have been on the scene for a long time, and are likely to stick around. We’ll cover
Nonprofit business services partners
Adult basic education and literacy programs
Supportive service agencies
Nonprofit Business Services Partners
There are well over 100 organizations in Chicago and Cook County that promote workforce development by providing services to businesses. Additionally, there are organizations that focus primarily on other issues, such as homelessness or immigration, and also seek to connect with businesses to place their clients in gainful employment.
Below are a few examples of these potential business services partners. But please note that there are many, many others not mentioned here, and we encourage you to explore your options based on your organization’s priorities.
Organization | Description |
Best Buddies | Connects employers with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities |
Cara Collective | Connects employers with talent, for permanent, temporary, and contract positions. Also provides customized training for new hires, employees, and supervisors |
Hire360 | Helps employers and contractors diversify their teams and contractors. Invests In minority- and women-owned businesses. |
i.c. stars | Provides technology and IT employers with diverse talent on a contract-to-hire and direct-hire basis |
Jane Addams Resource Center (JARC) | Connects manufacturing employers with highly trained and skilled industry-ready graduates |
Skills for Chicagoland’s Future | Coordinates custom, in-house or classroom-based programs to train job-ready candidates with the specific skills that employers value |
Upwardly Global | Helps employers hire from pools of. immigrants and refugees who are seeking to get back to work in their chosen fields. |
Handy Hack: Don’t stop here! There are many other organizations that provide services that might spark your interest. Check out Talent Solutions Connector, a searchable database of workforce development services available to employers in Chicago and suburban Cook County. See chapter 5 for more information about this tool.
Adult Basic Education and Literacy Services
For employers looking to expand their talent pools to include potential employees they might have overlooked, Chicago also has a large network of community-based organizations and programs for adults looking to earn their GED or high school diploma, learn English as a second language, or otherwise increase their literacy skills.
In addition to language education, some of these organizations offer “bridge” programming that contextualizes learning by integrating foundational reading, math, and language skills with occupational knowledge.
Bridge programs prepare adults with limited academic or English language skills to enter and succeed in credit-bearing postsecondary education and training. [source]
The target population for bridge programs is typically adults with a lack of academic experience or limited English proficiency who need to “bridge the gap” between their current skills and what’s needed to enter and succeed in a particular occupation. For example, these organizations get participants ready to work by offering bridge programming --
Jane Addams Resource Center (JARC) helps prepare participants to work in manufacturing environments by offering contextualized reading and math coursework
Hire360 provides "pre-apprenticeship" math training to get participants ready to learn a trade
Women Employed has a career foundations curriculum that serves as a bridge to the community college system
Often, employers get involved in crafting bridge programming to ensure alignment with industry standards and concepts.
Supportive Service Agencies
As an employer, you know that hiring the right person is only half the battle. Retaining them is often the bigger challenge. For a variety of reasons, employees (really, any of us!) can struggle with basic needs that interfere with our ability to work. You might have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or other in-house support to help your employees address their challenges. But you also might not. This is where the broader workforce ecosystem can help.
Fun Fact: A major feature of the workforce development ecosystem, in general, is connecting job seekers to supportive services–often called “wraparound supports”--that provide the stability and resources necessary to obtain and retain a job.
For example, many workforce entities provide bus and train passes to help job seekers attend training or get to their interviews. Others provide referrals to related social service agencies that address specific needs such as child care, housing, food security, or mental health services. This safety net is essential to the workforce ecosystem, ensuring job seekers have their basic needs met while they search for and advance within their careers..
WorkLife Partnership is a nonprofit that pairs employees with a navigator to help them connect with services such as childcare, housing assistance, small loans, financial education, and mental health assistance. They also provide insight to employers who may be able to directly address issues that result in turnover or absenteeism.
Funding in Chicago and Cook County
You may be wondering: How is all this activity paid for in Chicago and suburban Cook County?
The answer is: Lots of ways. Funding may originate from the government or from private philanthropy. It may be directed to an organization, a specific initiative, or a particular kind of service. It may be explicitly labeled “workforce development,” or the funding may be folded into a budget for real estate development, or hunger, or after-school programming.
It’s impossible to identify all the sources of workforce development funding in Chicago and Cook County. In this section, we’ll describe the major categories of funding, including --
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Community Development Block Grants
Special initiative funding
Private philanthropy
Handy Hack: You might want to understand the various ways workforce development is funded because you may hear these terms when engaging with the workforce ecosystem. However, since funding generally is not disbursed directly to employers, you may never need to know all this! Feel free to skim, or skip ahead to the Chicago Success Stories section.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act - In Cook County
In Illinois, for the purposes of dispersing federal WIOA dollars (as discussed in the previous chapter), the state is divided into 22 Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIAs). Chicago and Cook County fall under LWIA 7, which is operated by The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership.
WIOA is organized into four “titles,” serving four different purposes and worker populations. In Illinois, each of these four titles (or pots of money) is received and administered by a different state agency.
Title | Administered By | Purpose |
Title I: Workforce Development for Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth | Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) | Authorizes job training and related services to unemployed or underemployed individuals and establishes the governance and performance accountability system for WIOA. |
Title II: Adult Education and Literacy | Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) | Authorizes education services to assist adults in improving their basic skills, completing secondary education, and transitioning to postsecondary education |
Title III: Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Services | Department of Employment Security (IDES) | The Wagner-Peyser Act integrates the U.S. Employment Service (Labor Exchange) into the one-stop system authorized by WIOA including equity requirements related to services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. |
Title IV: Vocational Rehabilitative Services | Department of Human Services (IDHS) | Authorizes employment-related vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities |
In 2022-2023, the total amount of WIOA funds invested in Chicago and suburban Cook County totaled $50 million [note].
Community Development Block Grants
In the City of Chicago, community development block grant funds come to the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) to support several programmatic areas across the city. DFSS’s Workforce Development and Ex-Offender Reentry division grants a portion of its funding to local community-based workforce organizations. These organizations serve three target populations --
People with a history of justice involvement
People who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness
People with limited English proficiency
These DFSS-funded programs offer one or more of the following training models --
Employment preparation and placement to help job seekers obtain and retain a job
Industry-specific training in high-demand sectors that allow for career advancement opportunities
Transitional jobs to provide temporary employment that combines real work experience, skill development, and support services
Re-entry services to provide returning citizens with tailored employment support
These funds focus on job seekers' needs, and indirectly benefit employers by broadening the pool of available talent.
Special Initiative Funding
In addition to the general federal funding described in Chapter 2 and localized above, there are occasional one-time government investments earmarked for particular groups of job seekers or particular types of programming. This funding is usually intended to help train or upskill members of the workforce to fill in-demand roles identified by local employers.
This table provides just a few examples of these special initiatives, some of them related to the pandemic that began in 2020.
Year | Initiative and Investment | Purpose |
2019 | Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI); $5.5 million | Offer more students the opportunity to quickly complete short-term certificate programs that lead to employment in high-skilled, high-wage, and in-demand occupations |
2021 | Apprenticeship Illinois; $8 million | Expand innovative and high-quality apprenticeship programs that prepare Illinoisans for jobs in high-demand industries |
2022 | Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED); $20 million | Part of Illinois' workforce recovery efforts funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Special training focus on industries hardest-hit by the pandemic |
2022 | Good Jobs Chicagoland; $18.5 million | Employer-led, community driven initiative administered by The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, to promote economic resiliency and growth for Chicago and Cook County. Links Chicago’s un/underemployed residents to jobs that pay family wealth-building wages, with a particular focus on meeting the needs of communities suffering from intergenerational poverty exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly on the South and West sides of Chicago and Cook County |
The specific initiatives listed have or will come to an end. Other special initiatives will come along, often in response to labor market and economic trends.
Private Philanthropy
Private philanthropy is often sought to fill in the gaps where government funds leave off. Chicago is lucky to benefit from a robust philanthropic community.
Many foundations provide funding to support general employment preparation services or to support specific populations of job seekers (e.g., youth, veterans, returning citizens) or specific industries or occupations (e.g., healthcare, information technology, manufacturing). Some examples of foundations making workforce investments in Chicago include the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, and the Polk Bros. Foundation.
Beyond providing funds, foundations are often in a position to foster thought partnership and innovation. For example, the Joyce Foundation led both research and piloting of bridge programs in Chicago to close race and income disparities in post-secondary attainment. Today, those programs are an ongoing feature of the workforce ecosystem. At its best, philanthropy builds infrastructure, pilots ideas that the public sector is unable to execute, and funds new strategies and initiatives..
Chicago Employer Success Stories
To illustrate how Chicago and Cook County employers leverage the workforce ecosystem, here are a few case studies.
Zentro Internet
Tom Vranas is the Chief of Staff, Innovation and People at Zentro Internet– a Chicago-based internet service provider dedicated to making consumer’s Internet experience simple and enjoyable. Founded in 2013 (as Everywhere Wireless), Zentro Internet has been named to Inc. Magazine's 5000 fastest growing companies, with growth of over 300% over one three-year period. [end note].
With its rapid expansion, Zentro has been deliberate about expanding its team in Chicago and becoming a part of the communities it serves. To address its workforce challenges, Zentro partners with nearly a dozen workforce development organizations in the Chicago area that work closely with job seekers: upskilling candidates, assisting returning veterans, training justice-impacted employees, and more. Because of these partnerships, they don’t have the workforce challenges that other employers experience. When Tom has open roles, his workforce organizational partners are the first place he goes to fill them.
"Our workforce partners serve as our front lines in the hiring process. They provide highly vetted and qualified candidates, and we are able to offer an opportunity to someone who traditionally may not have had access to a job in the tech industry. It’s been a great experience and one that I wish more businesses would consider adopting.” Tom Vranas, Chief of Staff, Innovation & People, Zentro Internet
As an organization, Zentro Internet had to build comfort using an alternative hiring program, but even that effort didn’t take long. They have great partners who are invested in making sure that their candidates are successful.
In particular, Tom’s partnership with Lincoln College of Technology has been a win for their organization. Their Electrical and Electronic Systems Technology program has become his primary source for hiring for field positions. Each year, he attends job fairs, hosts invitation-only interviews with upcoming graduates, and conducts Q&A sessions with current students. Other staff at Zentro Internet have become involved with the partnership by participating in these activities.
Zentro's business services partners are supported by public and private funding. So, there have been no costs to Zentro beyond team members' (mostly Tom's) time. Tom estimates that he invests about 5-10 hours per month, per organization. That time covers not only relationship building and maintenance–for example, communication about candidates and meetings with their teams--but also leadership activities, such as participating on steering committees and boards, lunch and learns with students, speaking at graduation events or conferences, and facilitating connections with other groups and organizations. Additionally, the company has donated substantial amounts of equipment to its business services partners.
The cost of Tom's time is offset by wage subsidies the company has received under the Paid Work Experience and On the Job Training programs, which he estimates at more than $30,000. (See Chapter 4 for more information about these programs.)
Tom has not rested on his already impressive workforce development laurels. In 2024, Zentro Internet was inducted into the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) program. Military spouses tend to be highly motivated and educated, but face several barriers to gainful employment. They are often moving frequently and may be stationed in communities that have limited career prospects. Unemployment rates for military spouses are significantly higher than the general population. Tom and Zentro Internet are committed to creating meaningful employment opportunities for military spouses.
“In some ways, it feels almost too good to be true that there are organizations out there whose sole mission is to match people who are ready to work with employers who need candidates.” Tom Vranas, Chief of Staff, Innovation and People, Zentro Internet
Pete’s Fresh Market
Alita Bezanis is the Director of Organizational Development at Pete’s Fresh Market, a grocery store chain in the Chicago area.
Alita recalls a time when Pete’s was opening a new store but hadn’t yet developed a Human Resources department. There were hundreds and hundreds of applicants for open positions, and she was trying to handle it herself with one other person. It was chaotic, and they had no system. Because of that, they were so thankful when Pete’s received support from Service Works, an agency they connected with through The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and Skills for Chicagoland's Future. These agencies helped Alita with recruiting and screening candidates. With their support, Pete’s was better prepared when it came time to open additional stores.
Alita also worked with Instituto Del Progreso Latino, which proved to be a wonderful resource for English language learners. Alita worked with Instituto to design an English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum that included customer service language, which improved on-the-job performance.
Alita also took advantage of a unique opportunity for Pete’s to collaborate with its competitors and tackle shared challenges through the Reimagine Retail initiative. The most pressing issue on the group's radar was retention. Turnover rates were high, particularly among cashiers. Insights uncovered through the program prompted Pete’s to introduce a streamlined two-day onboarding process tailored specifically for cashiers, along with a dedicated training workstation and a weekly training program. Alita says the program has exceeded expectations..
“The results have been remarkable. Not only have our retention rates improved significantly, but our cashiers have also grown more adept at handling customer interactions and their overall responsibilities. Beyond these internal gains, we've also forged stronger bonds with our competitors, fostering a sense of collaboration that goes beyond the ordinary.” Alita, Director of Organizational Development, Pete’s Fresh Market
Summing Up ...
The following visual presents a (simplified) view of the overall Chicago and suburban Cook County workforce ecosystem. The top of this visual lists the main funding streams for workforce development in Cook County and the corresponding entities that administer them. The arrows illustrate how the funding flows to the various players in Cook County’s ecosystem. As shown by the overlapping circles, some entities receive funds from multiple sources.
While funding streams usually are distributed to programs and their participants (not directly to employers), all this funding ultimately benefits employers by expanding and educating the region's workforce.
“In Cook County, and particularly in Chicago, we're lucky to have a wealth of resources and partners. From schools to public services, there's a lot here to help people move forward. I've noticed that others, both statewide and nationally, often look to us as a model in workforce development.” Anissa' Jones, Senior VP of Employment and Human Services, Employment and Employer Services (E&ES)
Chicago and suburban Cook County are doing great work in workforce development, bridging gaps between employers and un- or underemployed individuals. Perhaps this overview of the many contributors to the region's workforce ecosystem will convince you to investigate further.