Advance Illinois Holds Annual Planning Meeting

Advance Illinois held a luncheon at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling, Il.  Over 50 professionals attended the luncheon and were comprised of high school administration, business owners, manufacturers, community college administration, and workforce placement organizations.  The meeting was primarily open discussion in a round-table format, in which all participants were able to contribute ideas to strengthen the network between education and the workforce. There were three priorities determined by the end of this meeting:  First, communities must make a collaborative effort to increase rural populations to sustain a viable workforce.  Second, education must continue to build Career Pathways that feed the local workforce.  Third, it is critical that the state of Illinois adopt a statewide apprenticeship program, much like Wisconsin.