Governor Quinn Announces 9,366 Jobs Created Through ‘Put Illinois to Work'

DECATUR – June 12, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today visited Midwest Fiber Recycling in Decatur to announce that 2,436 employers across the state have agreed to hire more than 9,366 workers through the Quinn Administration’s “Put Illinois to Work” (PIW) employment program, launched in late April. The program is currently on target to surpass 10,000 jobs created by next week.

“Put Illinois to Work is doing just that: putting thousands of Illinois residents to work in good-paying jobs like these at Midwest Fiber Recycling,” said Governor Quinn. “Illinois workers are some of the best in the country, and we need to do everything we can to make sure they have the opportunities to develop new skills.”

Midwest Fiber Recycling, a participating employer in the PIW program, is a family-owned business that started out offering recycling services to Macon County. Today, it has over 50 employees and recycles more than 210 million pounds of cardboard, newspaper, office paper, plastic and other recyclable materials. Midwest Fiber Recycling’s service area now extends throughout the Midwest, with facilities in Decatur, Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and Peoria.

Through Put Illinois to Work, eligible Illinois residents are placed in subsidized employment positions with participating worksites for up to six months, learning valuable skills and supporting their families. The program will help stimulate Illinois’ ailing economy and develop a healthy workforce by providing meaningful work experience for participants. Put Illinois to Work is expected to create more than 15,000 jobs statewide.

Private, public and non-profit businesses are encouraged to sign on with Put Illinois to Work. Eligible participants are matched to subsidized employment opportunities with these worksites. The hope is that when the program concludes, many employers will permanently hire the workers they have trained.

Put Illinois to Work is a collaborative effort of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and Heartland Human Care Services (HHCS). Funding is provided through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF), which was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

Eligible worksites and participants must meet program criteria and agree to adhere to specific program requirements. Participants must be age 18-21, or 18 and older and the parent (custodial or non-custodial) of a minor child. All participants must have a household income below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($2,428 per month for a family of two) and be legally authorized to work.

For eligibility criteria and additional information on Put Illinois to Work, visit www.PutIllinoistoWork.Illinois.gov.