Illinois has been named the number one leader for workforce development in the Midwest region for the second year in a row!

The Site Selection magazine ranking annually recognizes states that performed well given their employment climate, listing Illinois first for the state’s dedication toward creating high quality jobs.

Illinois' workforce development has consistently evolved in equity and innovation, including apprenticeship programs at every level and has over 400 registered apprenticeship programs for more than 20,000 active apprentices.

Under these apprenticeships, Illinois has focused seven key elements to ensure that every applicant receives high quality development with a focus on their career path including: diversity, quality and safety, supplemental education, being a paid job, industry led, able to earn credentials, and structured on-the-job learning/mentorship. With these categories in mind, Illinois has covered the essential bases for every apprenticeship to be a success story.

Workforce development programs have grown expeditiously in Illinois, focusing on access to certification programs, custom training programs, apprenticeships and sponsored college degrees.

One such program that has provided countless providers to work with is the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which has increased access to good-paying jobs in the trades since 2021.

Under this program, support services are also available based on the participant’s needs including mental health counseling, housing assistance, childcare, transportation assistance, and math and reading tutoring to ensure every Illinoisan is given an equal opportunity to develop and focus on their career path.

For a complete list of Pre-Apprenticeship Program Providers visit the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity website.

Chicago has been known as the candy capital of the world for over 100 years. In addition to local confectionaries, like Margie’s Candies pictured here, many name-brand candies that you know and love got their start here.

Lemonheads were invented by the Ferrara Pan Candy Company in the 1960s. Salvatore Ferrera immigrated to Chicago at the turn of the 20th century to set up a confectionary shop. Still in operation today, the Ferrera Candy Company’s headquarters are in Chicago and a candy store in Forest Park sells the sour treats.

Mars Inc. — which makes Snickers and M&Ms — operates multiple facilities in Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods. The company relocated from Minneapolis to Chicago in 1929 and opened a plant that still exists today. Forrest Mars Sr., the son of the founder of Mars Company, introduced one of the company’s most popular candies in 1930 – the Snickers bar, named after the Mars family’s favorite horse. The company later invented M&Ms and started production for them in 1941.

The name Wrigley is synonymous with Chicago for many people thanks to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. What also may come to mind is Wrigley Gum, which is made in Chicago. The company was founded in 1891 by William Wrigley, Jr. In addition to gum, the company also sells mints and candies.

Tootsie Rolls are also made in Chicago. Leo Hirschfield founded the company, Tootsie Roll Industries, and began production on the candy in 1907.

The next time you unwrap a Snickers or a Tootsie Roll, or pop a Lemonhead or M&M in your mouth, think about how they’re made right here in Illinois!

National Farmer’s Day serves to honor the hard-working farmers that dedicate their lives to supplying food across the nation. Farmers are responsible for the plowing, sowing, growing and harvesting of crops while maintaining the sustainability of the land and securing the safety of consumers.

In Illinois, farmland accounts for 75% of the total land area equaling 27 million acres. Farms in Illinois are the leading producers of soybeans, corn and swine. Illinois farms also produce other grains, livestock, fruits and vegetables including pumpkins.

In the spirit of the fall season, Illinois is the top pumpkin producing state and has been for many years. The pumpkins grown in Illinois are shipped across the country and are used for all our favorite fall activities such as carving, painting, baking and more. Thanks to Illinois farmers, families can enjoy the best parts of the fall season.

Thank a farmer today!

The Illinois Department of Transportation received top honors among Midwest states in the American’s Transportation Awards for its commitment to revitalizing state infrastructure and enhancing quality of life for every community.

After nine years and over $896 million in funding used to support the project, construction on the Jane Byrne and Weber Road interchanges brought IDOT recognition for improving traffic mobility and accommodating the increasing traffic volume.

The project makes state history with innovative changes, including a diverging-diamond design on Weber Road by reconfiguring the interchange with Interstate 55. The Jane Byrne project involved rebuilding several bridges to make way for wider sidewalks and bike lanes, developments to Peoria Street that transformed the area into an expansive walkway, and adding an elevator to the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line Station for customers with disabilities.

IDOT’s prestigious award is sponsored by the American of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in recognition for their steadfast determination in forging sustainable state infrastructure and remedying economic and social concerns.

This significant project and esteemed award is a testament to IDOT’s efforts in being at the forefront of innovation in our state and throughout our communities.

Imagine you are a small minority owned brewery in Chicago and the owner of Samuel Adams, Jim Kock, drinks your beer right in front of you and tells you that he can smell the hops exploding! Talk about a surreal moment!

For Funkytown Brewery co-founders Richard Bloomfield, Gregory Williams and Zachary Day, they did not have to imagine a moment like that, because it became their reality at the 12th Annual Samuel Adams Brewing and Business Experienceship Craft Beer Competition.

The three childhood friends from Oak Park entered into the competition among 50 other businesses and became finalists at the New York Crafting Dreams Beer Bash. Their victory sent them to the national competition, where they reigned supreme giving them access to mentorship, networking, and funding from Samuel Adams Brewing.

Funkytown Brewery is more than just craft beer. They build their business on values centered around culture and community involvement. They believe in making craft beer more accessible to women, Black people, and other demographics that are usually not at the top of the market minds of brewers.

.Funkytown started from small brew batches in their parent’s garage and is now sold at over 600 locations across the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin including Wrigley Field and the United Center. This September the co-founders will create a craft beer to showcase at the Great American beer Festival in partnership with the brewers at Samuel Adams’ Boston headquarters.

For more information about Funkytown Brewery and how they are using their entrepreneurship to give back to their community visit them here.