ECC receives $600,000 federal grant for job training

WASHINGTON - Elgin Community College will receive a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help more than 250 local residents with job training services, Congressman Bill Foster announced Thursday.

The college, one of the fastest-growing community colleges in Illinois, plans to target services to low-income individuals within Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin and Streamwood, and low- and moderate-income workers at four businesses in Elgin, South Elgin and St. Charles.

The funding comes from the federal agency's Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities program.

"We appreciate Congressman Foster's role in obtaining these funds for ECC, which will aid our regional economy by assisting a greater number of people to return to the workplace more quickly," college President David Sam said in a news release.

Foster, a Geneva Democrat, said unemployment in his suburban district continues to hover around 10 percent.