CHICAGO – Mayor Brandon Johnson announced today that two Chicago-based organizations, the Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) and Revolution Workshop, will receive a combined total of nearly $7 million in federal funding to improve job quality, expand access to good jobs and provide high-quality training opportunities for local workers. These grants, awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, will support critical job training programs aimed at preparing Chicagoans for good-paying jobs in the city's rapidly growing infrastructure and construction sectors. 

 

The Jane Addams Resource Corporation will receive $4.8 million through the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program. This funding will enable JARC to expand its workforce training initiatives, which focus on providing hands-on skills training and support services to individuals in underserved communities, helping them secure employment in manufacturing and construction industries. 

Revolution Workshop, a social enterprise that offers comprehensive job training programs in carpentry and woodworking, will receive $2 million through the same grant program. This funding will help Revolution Workshop continue its mission of providing high-quality pre-apprenticeship programs and wraparound services to underrepresented individuals, including those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, low-income communities and communities of color. 

Chicago is leading the way in creating pathways to economic opportunity and careers that will sustain families and communities,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “These grants will allow the Jane Addams Resource Corporation and Revolution Workshop to expand their vital work, empowering more Chicagoans to gain the skills and training they need to access good-paying jobs in growing sectors. Together, we are building a Chicago where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.” 

The funding for these two organizations is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader effort to support worker-focused training programs that incorporate industry and worker voices. The grants will enhance access to quality jobs in critical sectors, such as infrastructure and construction and broaden career opportunities for youth and adults in Chicago. 

The Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program awarded nearly $38 million nationwide in this round to support 13 public-private partnerships across nine states, preparing workers for the infrastructure jobs the Biden-Harris Administration is creating. JARC and Revolution Workshop are among the key recipients, demonstrating the critical role Chicago organizations play in this national effort. 

The grants align with the Good Jobs Principles developed by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce, emphasizing the importance of improving job quality and accessibility across various industries. This funding will support ongoing efforts to build a robust workforce infrastructure that prepares residents for high-quality, sustainable careers.