The Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area (EDC), a non-profit organization that assists businesses and communities in McLean County, is the recipient of a $161,700 grant funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

“The purpose of this funding is to improve workforce development efforts in the healthcare sector and to promote collaborative efforts between hospitals, long-term care facilities, universities and community colleges,” said Therese McMahon, deputy director of the Office of Workforce Development at DCEO. “The result should be a win for all of Central Illinois, especially job seekers and patients.”

This grant was awarded to the EDC to enhance healthcare workforce development within Central Illinois, including Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, Jacksonville, Springfield, Peoria and surrounding areas. The long-range goal of the project is the creation of a regional collaborative structure. The overall vision is to improve networking, promote collaborative processes and increase communication of regional initiatives in the 22 counties comprising the Central and North Central Economic Development Regions. The hope is that individuals and communities within these regions will benefit from this collaboration through the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

“We are honored that DCEO has recognized the EDC as a leadership organization capable of directing this important regional effort,” said Kelli Tillery Hill, EDC vice president. “Once this initial healthcare workforce project is carried out, we hope to duplicate the process with other targeted industries.”

The grant project, managed by Hill with input from focus groups and individuals across Central Illinois, is spearheaded under the umbrella of the Central Illinois Regional Collaborative Effort (CIRCLE), with support from foundations and organizations in Illinois and across the nation. CIRCLE was initiated to sustain nursing workforce activities and partnerships of the Partners in Nursing (PIN) of Central Illinois. Support obtained from DCEO to investigate interest in regional collaboration around healthcare workforce made this effort possible.