Project Grant 23A60CP000017

APPLICANT NAME QUAD COUNTY URBAN LEAGUE, INC.PROJECT TITLE QUAD COUNTY YOUTH CAREERS PROGRAMFUNDING LEVEL REQUESTED 425,000CONGRESSIONAL SPONSOR CONGRESSMAN BILL FOSTERREQUESTED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE JANUARY 1, 2023 DECEMBER 31, 2025PROJECT LOCATION PRIMARILY AURORA, ILLINOIS BUT WILL SERVE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 11PROJECT PURPOSE AND GOALS THE QUAD COUNTY YOUTH CAREERS PROGRAM FOR CONSTRUCTION AND TDL (TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND LOGISTICS) PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A GED, ENROLL IN A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND OR GAIN ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OR TDL INDUSTRIES. THE TDL COMPONENT WILL FOCUS ON INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS FOR TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND LOGISTICS BY PROVIDING A CAREER PATHWAY THAT MAY LEAD TO CERTIFICATION. QUAD COUNTY YOUTH CAREERS PROGRAM WILL ADDRESS REQUIRED DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ETA PROGRAM GOALS SO THAT YOUTH CAN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUPPORT AS THEY ENTER THE PROGRAM AND ALONG THE CAREER PATHWAY.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED THE PROGRAM IS A MODEL TRAINING CURRICULUM OFFERING INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE NEEDED TO COMPETE FOR GOOD PAYING, ENTRY LEVEL JOBS IN CONSTRUCTION AND TDL RELATED FIELDS. THE PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED IN PHASES. IT IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO INCREASE THE POOL OF QUALIFIED HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED CANDIDATES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND TDL CAREERS IN ILLINOIS BY STRENGTHENING JOB READINESS AND LIFE SKILLS AND PREPARING FOR INDUSTRY REQUIRED TESTING THAT IS OFTEN A PREREQUISITE FOR EMPLOYMENT. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES JOB SHADOWING, WORK BASED LEARNING, AND APPRENTICESHIPS TO GIVE CANDIDATES AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT THE VARIOUS CAREER PATHS AVAILABLE. UTILIZING A COMPREHENSIVE, CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING APPROACH TO SUPPORT CAREER PATHWAYS, PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN APPLIED ACADEMIC SKILLS THROUGH THE EAST2 OF 2 PAGESAURORA SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SUPPORT THROUGH CITIES IN SCHOOL OF AURORA, 2000 CONSTRUCTION AND TDL SKILLS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF SQUARED AWAY CONSTRUCTION LLC AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND GAIN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WORK READINESS SKILLS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH QCUL STAFF AND ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE KANE COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION (LOCAL LWIB) PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT SERVICES THAT INCLUDE CAREER READINESS, EDUCATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES. COMMUNITY COLLEGES WILL HOST COLLEGE CAMPUS TOURS, PROVIDE ACADEMIC COUNSELING AND TRANSITION SUPPORT, AND OFFER A DUAL CREDIT CAREER PATHWAY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE. QCUL AND OTHER AGENCY PARTNERS PROVIDE RESOURCES WRAP AROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND FOLLOW UP SUPPORT AFTER PARTICIPANTS GRADUATE.EXPECTED OUTCOMES TITLE I YOUTH EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT RATE 2ND QUARTER AFTER EXIT 43 86 TITLE I YOUTH EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT RATE 4TH QUARTER AFTER EXIT 43 86 MEDIAN EARNINGS 2ND QUARTER AFTER EXIT 2,400 MONTH OR 7200 QUARTER CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT 43 86 MEASURABLE SKILL GAINS 40 80 AND EFFECTIVENESS IN SERVING EMPLOYERS NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS WHO RECEIVE SKILLED WORKERS AND REPORT THEIR SATISFACTION WITH SERVICES.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES FIFTY (50) ACADEMICALLY AT RISK, HOMELESS AND LOW INCOME, OR UNEMPLOYED YOUTH, AGES 16 24, WHO ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, ATTEND AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OR RESIDE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 11.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES WITH SQUARED AWAY CONSTRUCTION, LLC (SAC), QCUL WILL OFFER THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (NCCER CORE) CERTIFICATE, OSHA 10, THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE FLAGGER CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE AMERICAN TRAFFIC SAFETY SERVICES ASSOCIATION (ATSSA), NCCER YOUR ROLE IN GREEN CERTIFICATE (GREEN SUSTAINABILITY), AND FORKLIFT OPERATOR CERTIFICATION AUTHORIZED AND APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL.