Workforce Empowerment Initiative

Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI) at Rock Valley College

At RVC WEI, we build futures, one student at a time.

The Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI) is a transformative grant program funded by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Its mission is to expand access to education and career pathways for individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities, helping them transition into high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations.

At Rock Valley College, the WEI program offers tuition-free training designed to prepare students for employment in less than one year. The primary goal of the grant is job placement in a full-time position that either pays at least 30% above the regional living wage or leads to a pathway toward a family-sustaining wage.
WEI participants receive a wide range of support services at no cost, including:

• Training in high-demand career fields
• Free tuition, books, and materials
• Job placement assistance
• Employability and soft skills development
• Support for earning industry-recognized credentials
• Direct connections to local employers
• Wraparound services to address barriers to success

WEI at Rock Valley College is committed to supporting individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or living in communities that face systemic barriers to education and economic mobility.

If you have questions about eligibility or live outside the immediate service area, please contact the WEI staff for personalized assistance.

Program Goals

• At least 60% of participants will successfully complete identified program of study within the accelerated time frame
• At least 75% of participants will successfully complete life-skills training addressing the Illinois Essential Employability Skills (i.e. STU 103: Workplace Ethics and Job Readiness)
• At least 70% of participants will continue within the field in which they prepared at the end of their program by either being employed in a full-time job at least 30% above the regional living wage or by being registered for continued training/education