What Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership does

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is a non-profit corporation formed in 2012 through the merger of the City of Chicago and Cook County workforce systems, operating under the oversight of a Workforce Innovation Board composed of business, labor, education, and community leaders. The Partnership is the designated administrator of federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I funding for Chicago and Cook County and operates the largest public workforce system in the United States. Its service platform is a physical-network model: approximately 70 community-based organizations, 10 American Job Centers, three sector-driven centers, and satellite sites deliver free job search assistance, occupational training via Individualized Training Accounts (ITAs), career counseling, and employer services across the metropolitan region.

The Partnership's revenue model is grant-funded rather than transactional. The organization administers WIOA Title I federal pass-through funding supplemented by foundation grants (notably a $10.9 million Walmart Foundation grant in 2016, $500,000 from The Rockefeller Foundation, $250,000 from Citi Foundation) and corporate sponsorships (Union Pacific, Northwestern Medicine, Western Governors University, Facebook). All services to job seekers and employers are provided free of charge. Programmatic offerings span sector-specific training initiatives including ConstructionWorks (highway construction pre-apprenticeships), Chicago Codes (tuition-free coding academy), Hospitality Hires Chicago, the Chicagoland Retail Sector Center, Opportunity Works (youth internships), HPOG healthcare bridge programs, State Energy Sector Partnership, and the recently launched CEJA Illinois clean energy workforce hubs. Customer-facing outcomes reported include 86% employment placement among ITA completers (PY2024), 65% placement among WIOA network participants, $167.5M in wages earned by network participants (PY2023), and 70,000+ cumulative job placements since inception.

Strategically, the Partnership is expanding into emerging-economy verticals (clean energy under CEJA legislation, transportation/logistics via Uber Freight), deepening its healthcare and education employer pipeline, and re-competing service delivery contracts through 2026 RFPs. Its defensibility rests on a regulatory designation (WIOA administrator), a deeply embedded community and labor network (Chicago Federation of Labor, Building & Construction Trades Council, community colleges, 2,000+ employer collaborators), and dual-jurisdiction scale that smaller competitors cannot replicate. The principal risk is concentration on federal appropriations and a narrow set of large philanthropic funders.

Name

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Legal name

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Website

https://chicookworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Non-profit corporation formed in 2012 to administer the public workforce system for Chicago and Cook County. Operates the largest US public workforce network (~70 organizations, 10 American Job Centers) delivering free job training, placement, and employer services funded by federal WIOA grants and philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Workforce Development Services

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Public workforce services
• Employment training programs
• Job placement services
• Workforce development network
• Career pathway programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal WIOA Funding: As the designated administrator of federal workforce development funding for City of Chicago and Cook County, The Partnership receives Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I funding for adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs.
2. Foundation Grants: Receives grants from foundations including Citi Foundation ($250,000 Youth Opportunity Fund), Walmart Foundation ($10.9 million for retail workforce programs), Rockefeller Foundation ($500,000 for Chicago Codes), and others for specific workforce initiatives.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Receives corporate sponsorship funding from companies like Western Governors University ($10,000), Northwestern Medicine ($50,000 additional grant, total $100,000), Facebook (50 scholarships for Chicago Codes), and Union Pacific ($300,000 multi-year grant).
4. Employer Services: Provides free workforce services to employers including recruiting, candidate screening, job readiness training, and customized employer solutions at no cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is a non-profit that administers the public workforce system for Chicago and Cook County, operating a network of American Job Centers, community-based organizations, and sector-driven centers. It delivers free job training, career services, customized employer recruiting and screening, and industry-specific programs in construction, retail, hospitality, healthcare, clean energy, and technology to job seekers and employers. It also serves as the designated recipient of federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I funding and coordinates foundation grants and corporate sponsorships to fund its programs.

Product overview

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership operates the largest public workforce system in the country as a non-profit umbrella organization administering federal workforce development funding for Chicago and Cook County. The organization oversees a network of approximately 70 community-based organizations, American Job Centers, satellite sites, and sector-driven centers. Its portfolio includes core programs like the American Job Center Network and specialized initiatives including: ConstructionWorks (construction trades training), Hospitality Hires Chicago (hiring events), Chicago Codes (tech/coding academy), Chicagoland Retail Sector Center, Opportunity Works (youth internships), CEJA Workforce Hubs (clean energy), Health Profession Opportunity Grant (healthcare training), State Energy Sector Partnership (energy sector training), and Youth Workforce Hospital/High School Initiative. Programs are funded through WIOA federal grants, corporate partnerships, and philanthropic contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American Job Center Network Network of approximately 70 community-based organizations, American Job Centers, satellite sites, and sector-driven centers providing free workforce development services to job seekers and employers across Chicago and Cook County, including job search assistance, training, career counseling, and employer recruiting.
• Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Workforce Hubs Clean energy workforce training program funded by Illinois CEJA legislation, providing training and certifications for careers in solar energy, electric vehicles, and sustainable energy sectors.
• ConstructionWorks Construction industry workforce development initiative providing pre-apprenticeship training and support services for careers in the highway construction industry including laborers, equipment operators, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, and cement masons.
• Hospitality Hires Chicago Hiring event program that promotes employment opportunities across the Chicago region, bringing together employers with job openings and pre-screened job seekers in hospitality and other industries.
• Chicago Codes Tuition-free technology development and coding academy targeting underserved communities on Chicago's South Side. Provides rigorous industry-approved curriculum, software development internships, and job placement in tech careers.
• Chicagoland Retail Sector Center Retail sector workforce center providing job readiness training, job placement assistance, customized recruiting and screening, and employee retention assistance for retail workers in the Chicago area.
• Opportunity Works Sector-driven internship program for young adults ages 16-24 in suburban Cook County, offering paid internships and training in Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.
• Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) Healthcare Bridge Programs Healthcare Bridge Programs providing training for careers including Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, and Pharmacy Technician in partnership with Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago for low-income individuals.
• State Energy Sector Partnership U.S. Department of Labor grant program for training, certification, and job placement in energy-related occupations including gas utility, masonry, carpentry, building analyst, and energy auditor roles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% employment rate for ITA participants in Program Year 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• UbermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2019The Partnership selected as Uber Community Impact Initiative partner to address transportation barriers. Also serving as talent pipeline partner for Uber Freight creating 2,000+ jobs in Chicago market over 3 years in IT and logistics.
• Illinois TollwaymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2018The Partnership received $4.2 million contract for 3-year construction workforce initiative under Move Illinois Program. Provides pre-apprenticeship training and support services for highway construction careers targeting 150 individuals.
• 100,000 Opportunities Initiative CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2015The Partnership served as aggregator and intermediary for Chicago kickoff of national employer-led coalition including Alaska Airlines, CVS Health, Hilton, JPMorgan Chase, Lyft, Macy's, Microsoft, Starbucks, Target, Walgreens, Walmart and others committed to hiring 100,000 Opportunity Youth.
• Coding DojocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as program operator for Chicago Codes coding bootcamp training. Provided 11-week full-time tuition-free coding training with average starting salaries of $61,000-$83,000 for graduates.
• The Difference EnginesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech employer partner hosting Chicago Codes graduates in 10-week paid internships working on community-based software development projects.
• Workforce Boards of Metropolitan ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting HPOG healthcare Bridge Programs in Cook County and metropolitan region for low-income individuals seeking healthcare careers including CNA, LPN, RN, and Pharmacy Technician training.
• Elgin Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Education and Work Center in Hanover Park providing education and employment services free of charge to area residents.
• Harper CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Education and Work Center in Hanover Park for education and employment services.
• Village of Hanover ParksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner in Education and Work Center providing community resources and support for residents.
• National Able NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates Chicago Heights Workforce Center at Prairie State College. Placed more than 200 individuals in employment and helped 400+ residents access career services.
• Prairie State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Chicago Heights Workforce Center on campus. Provides educational resources and pathways for workforce training and employment.
• Illinois Community College BoardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner providing oversight and support for community college workforce development initiatives.
• Chicago Transit AuthoritysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior public sector client for construction workforce development initiatives.
• Cook County Health and Hospital SystemssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior public sector client for workforce development programs.
• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in managing large consortiums for workforce development initiatives.
• Chicago Federation of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in workforce development consortium, representing labor interests in workforce initiatives.
• Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for construction workforce development and apprenticeship programs.
• Hispanic American Construction Industry AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for State Energy Sector Partnership providing training in energy-related occupations.
• Chicago Women In TradessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for energy sector training focusing on opportunities for women in trades.
• Midwest Energy Efficiency AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for energy sector training and building analyst/energy auditor certifications.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating workforce development, job training, and placement programs through a large network of local affiliates with government and corporate funding; comparable in network-based service delivery, employer services, and free job-seeker model.
• National Skills Coalition: National policy and advocacy organization focused on equitable workforce policy, skills training, and sector partnerships; broadly comparable in mission and federal-grant ecosystem even though it does not directly operate job centers.
• ResCare (now BrightSpring Health Services): Large workforce-services and human-services provider operating government-funded employment, training, and staffing programs nationally; relevant peer for large-scale WIOA-funded workforce operations and employer services at scale.

Direct peers

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit that designs, scales, and advocates for workforce and education solutions serving low-income and opportunity-youth populations, with comparable funder mix (federal, foundation) and sector-center program design.
• Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago: Partner organization in metropolitan Chicago focused on healthcare workforce training (HPOG) and other sector programs; operates in the same geography and same WIOA ecosystem, making it a natural peer for regional workforce development comparison.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology training and career placement for adults from underserved communities, comparable to Chicago Codes in tech-skills training, employer-funded scholarships (Facebook), and outcome-based placement metrics.
• National Fund for Workforce Solutions: National nonprofit intermediary that supports regional workforce partnerships and sector strategies; closely aligned with The Partnership's sector-center and employer-led partnership model and similar funder ecosystem.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training, internships, and employment placement for young adults from underserved communities, with a strong emphasis on employer partnerships and outcome metrics similar to The Partnership's Opportunity Works and sector-center programs.
• NPower: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology workforce training and job placement for veterans and young adults from underserved communities; directly comparable in tech-skills training model, employer partnerships, and outcome reporting.

Emerging players

• Apprenti: National nonprofit apprenticeship and workforce intermediary connecting job seekers with technology and trade apprenticeships; comparable to The Partnership's apprenticeship-style programs (ConstructionWorks) and employer-led sector partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKCsUQkulVJO2ZJz2UpyoHg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChiCookWORKS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicookworks2012
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicookworks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership