MENDOTA - BEST, Inc. has received a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as part of the state’s and US Department of Labor’s effort to expand apprenticeship opportunities. BEST, Inc. is partnering with Illinois Valley Community College, Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Illinois Economic Development and Rock Island Tri-County Consortium to deliver outreach to area businesses across all industry sectors.

Outreach will include making businesses aware of the benefits of sponsoring an apprenticeship program including the positive return on investment, the process of developing an apprenticeship program, and linkage to the US Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeships.

Thousands of occupations and companies have benefited from the apprenticeship model and the State of Illinois is looking to expand those opportunities by another 800 apprentices over the course of the grant period. Locally the project looks to add 20 new registered apprentices along with five new programs.

Nikelle Tellier has been hired to act as project manager and will be responsible for coordinating efforts among the partnering entities. Area businesses are encouraged to participate in upcoming events, as they are scheduled, that will further define the advantages of the apprenticeship model to train and retain their workforce or to reach out to Tellier by e-mail at nikelle_tellier@best-inc.org.