CJA Aurora workforce hub reports graduates, asks county to connect employers
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Summary
At the Kane County Jobs Committee on April 17, Nicole Maseberg of the CJA Aurora workforce hub outlined training pathways under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, said the program has recorded dozens of completions and asked committee members to help connect students with work‑based learning and hiring opportunities.
Nicole Maseberg, student support specialist for the CJA Aurora workforce hub, told the Kane County Jobs Committee on April 17 that the program created under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act has produced several dozen early graduates and is seeking employer partners to expand work‑based learning.
Maseberg said the hub has completed 79 graduates overall and outlined a pathway that begins with eligibility screening (often done by a Goodwill navigator), a 180‑hour bridge training and optional secondary training such as a 13‑credit HVAC certificate at College of DuPage, energy auditing, solar installation or weatherization. "We have officially completed 79 graduates in our last year," she said, and added that graduates receive supportive services and stipends to improve retention.
Callie Matheny, director of the CJA Aurora workforce hub, told the committee the program will relocate classroom space to Aurora University while site work is completed at a recently secured property on South River Street. "We have secured a property at 649 South River Street that will function as a true workforce hub," Matheny said.
The hub provides testing (CASAS) to assess reading and math levels, workplace‑essentials training and industry certifications including OSHA 10, CPR and EPA 608 where applicable. Maseberg said early employment outcomes include students moving into work‑based learning or full‑time positions: in one cohort she cited 7 completions in energy‑auditor training with one hire and several placements from HVAC and solar pathways.
Committee members pressed presenters on program credit and transferability. Maseberg confirmed the HVAC pathway yields college credit through College of DuPage; other pathways are primarily certificate‑based and designed for rapid entry into the workforce. She also confirmed the initial CJA grant funding extends through June 2027 and that the hub is requesting additional funds for year‑three programming to add project‑management and business development content employers have requested.
Presenters emphasized that the program targets environmental‑justice and equity‑eligible communities and supports participants with transportation, childcare assistance, licensing help and stipends. "We pay them $13 an hour for every hour they're in the classroom," Maseberg said, and the hub distributes gas cards, PACE bus cards and reimbursement options to mitigate transportation barriers.
The hub asked the committee and board members to connect the program with local employers for short‑term survival jobs and longer‑term hiring pipelines. Matheny and Maseberg said they already partner with local community colleges, Goodwill navigators, WorkNet providers and industry partners but need more employer placements for students to complete work‑based learning requirements. The committee did not take formal action on the presentation; members offered to share employer contacts and follow up with program staff.
Next step: presenters will continue outreach to employers and finalize the move to the River Street facility once site work allows student occupancy.
