Put Illinois To Work Nets Nearly 3,000 Jobs

By aaroncynic in News on May 4, 2010 6:40PM

Yesterday, Governor Quinn’s office announced its “Put Illinois to Work” program will initially create more than 2,825 jobs, less than a week after its launch. The program provides subsidies for employers who hire unemployed workers that earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($2,428 a month for a household of two). Employers are encouraged to hire people for six months, where the goal is for an employee to learn marketable skills while supporting themselves and their families. If an employer keeps an employee longer, a tax credit will benefit the employer. Overall, the Governor hopes to create more than 15,000 jobs.

“The response by employers and workers has been tremendous, and the momentum is building toward creating more good-paying jobs that can support families and communities. Already, 349 employers across Illinois have signed on to Put Illinois to Work” Governor Quinn said via press release. In an interview with the New York Times, Joseph A. Antolin, Executive Director of the non-profit Heartland Alliance said “I’ve been in this field for 32 years, and this is unprecedented. There’s little bureaucracy and this gets people back to work quickly.”

Even though a full recovery from the recent economic crisis (and its ensuing job loss) is still a long way in coming, with an unemployment rate still in the double digits, even a temporary solution to get people working again is positive.