Pappas Promotes IDOT Highway Construction Careers Training Program Opportunities, Graduates

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Pappas, D-Itasca, is voicing her support for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program (IDOT HCCTP), which recently saw another class of graduates, with many advancing to practical, hands-on careers.

“With this program, IDOT has provided hands-on learning experience and high-quality education for hundreds of graduates,” Pappas said. “They are stimulating the economy by creating sustainable, good-paying employment opportunities for Illinoisans who use their time in the program to build impressive, market-ready skills.”

The HCCTP is an initiative run by the Illinois Department of Transportation in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration. The goal of the program is to offer vocational training opportunities and future jobs prospects to qualified candidates, especially in minority and disadvantaged groups. It provides a free alternative to costly on-the-job training initiatives that often insufficiently cover critical elements of job education, and can lead to low-quality work, safety hazards and even injuries. The program is funded by the bipartisan, balanced budget Pappas helped pass last spring, which provided money for economic stimulus programs and practical, affordable jobs training initiatives like the HCCTP.

“Communities across the state will benefit from the hard work of HCCTP graduates, who are literally building a stronger Illinois with their contributions to numerous infrastructure projects,” Pappas said. “I’m committed to creating a stronger economic future for our community, and the best way to do so is investing in programs that build skills so, upon completion, participants are well-equipped to land good jobs. I recommend anyone looking into vocational schooling to learn about this great opportunity.”