Representatives from Joliet Junior College, Governors State University, Lewis University and the University of Saint Francis briefed the Will County Board on Nov. 20 about outcomes from a $10 million county investment made from federal ARPA funds to support nursing and teaching pipelines.

Klein Namuo of Joliet Junior College said the grant-funded effort has served more than 1,500 students across the county and credited the investment with removing financial barriers that kept adults from completing credentials. Joliet Junior College’s executive director, Kelly Rotor Tonelli, reported that JJC supported 928 students in the program over two years, yielding 178 associate degrees and 342 certificates.

Paul McGinnis and Lisa Stempales (University of Saint Francis) and Kip Klein (Lewis University) described dual-degree pathways, transfer specialists, and the expansion of nursing, counseling and allied-health subawards. Lewis said it had expended more than $500,000 in sub-awards this fall and was serving nearly 400 Lewis students in nursing, teacher preparation, counseling and allied-health fields.

Presenters emphasized workforce-retention goals: many trainees are expected to remain and work in Will County after completing degree programs. Leaders also highlighted testimonials from scholarship recipients describing how tuition relief allowed them to study for nursing and education careers.

Board members received the report with thanks and asked staff to keep tracking outcomes and retention data as part of broader workforce pipeline monitoring.