Cheryl Harvey of Bloomington was recently hired to the new grant-funded position of regional healthcare workforce associate at the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area (EDC).

In this position, she is responsible for investigating and coordinating regional programs that positively impact healthcare workforce development. Her duties include promoting group facilitation and regional collaboration, communicating with regional partners and organizations and recommending activities to address regionally-identified needs.

This position was created and is fully-funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grant was awarded to the EDC to promote a collaborative project within Central Illinois. The long-range goal of the project is the creation of a regional collaborative structure with the primary purpose of enhancing workforce development initiatives within Central Illinois. The initial focus is on healthcare workforce initiatives. To learn more about the grant, click here.

Harvey previously served as program director and case manager for a mental health outreach coalition. She also has experience as an adjunct professor at Gavilan Community College, Gilroy, Calif. teaching a variety of courses focusing on mental health issues. She has also served as a counselor in an adult residential mental health facility, where she taught educational courses and facilitated small group sessions. Harvey earned a dual bachelor’s degree in psychology/counseling and theology from William Jessup University in San Jose, Calif.

The EDC is a private not-for-profit organization that helps businesses and communities in McLean County prosper. It is a leadership organization, investing the community’s assets to grow and improve its prosperity and quality of life.