KCC students are invited to apply for the $1,000 Women In Networking Scholarship.
The scholarship was established to provide needed funds to working women to retain or continue their education. Applicants must:
Full details and the scholarship application are on the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce website.
This message is being posted as a community service. The scholarship is not offered by KCC.
Renovation projects from December 2024 to July 2025 will affect several areas on the Riverfront Campus.
Overall, there will be areas with construction barriers, flooring protection, noise and contractors with equipment and material.
To see affected areas on the first floor, view the map showing the closures and alternates.
L Building, 1st floor (Northeast side)
The stairs and elevator are available for travel between the second and third floors. Nearby alternates:
2nd floor access – Nearby alternates * Elevator/stairs near the Welcome Center entrance of the Workforce Development Center. * Elevator/stairs in the center hallway of Workforce Development Center.
3rd floor access – Nearby alternates * Elevator/stairs in the center hallway of Workforce Development Center. * Stairs next to the College Center, near the north end of the Workforce Development Center.
L Building, 3rd floor
Technology Building, 2nd floor (east end)
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this construction project.
Kankakee Community College has received a $390,000 Job Training Economic Development (JTED) grant for students in its manufacturing, information technology and welding programs.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant funds students’ tuition, fees, books and supplies, and assists with other expenses. It is available to students enrolled in manufacturing and information technology programs, industries where there are not enough local workers. Recipients must be between 18-24 years old.
“This development grant invests in the future of our community,” said Dr. Michael Boyd, KCC’s president. “By aligning our training programs with the needs of local employers and providing robust support services, we’re empowering our residents to build better futures for themselves and their families.”
KCC received the JTED grant because the college serves three communities—Kankakee, Hopkins Park and Pembroke—identified as part of the Illinois Restore, Reinvest, Renew initiative. Another factor for eligibility was having a workforce which could benefit from learning the skills needed to fill family-sustaining jobs in emerging sectors.
“This grant will assure that individuals that are seeking short-term training solutions for longer-term employment options can proceed in gaining the sought after skills sets,” said Paul Carlson, KCC dean of KCC’s Business, Technology & Human Services Division. “Many advisory committee member employers have identified students in Manufacturing or IT or Welding simply due to the student being enrolled and becoming noticed. What an exciting time for students and employers to be able to match needs, and now (with) these grant funds even more connection could be made.”
Carlson added that the program adds value because it allows students “to offset the immediate concern of costs … on day one of their studies.”
“There is an immediate solution for employers that seek highly skilled employees, and for students to locate long sought-after family sustaining wages while not being strapped for the costs of school,” Carlson said.
Programs eligible for funding include advanced manufacturing, information technology support, web development, and welding. KCC’s has options for industry-recognized credentials in PC support, Java software development, manufacturing production, and welding.
Grant recipients will receive personalized career planning and assessments. Services will include financial literacy education, digital literacy, job search assistance, transportation, and childcare support. Students will work with KCC’s career planners to outline their goals, identify necessary training, and develop strategies for overcoming obstacles to employment.
“The JTED grant aligns with KCC’s long-standing mission to serve as an anchor institution for economic development in the region,” Boyd said. “The college is committed to addressing educational disparities and supporting the local workforce in adapting to a rapidly changing job market.”
The JTED grant is made possible by a collaboration among KCC, local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations.
Boyd said KCC is committed to making sure participants can continue their education and training even if the JTED funding expires. The college will assist qualified students with additional funding sources such as Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, Perkins grants, and KCC Foundation resources, he said.
For more information, or to apply for grant funds, visit www.kcc.edu/workforceservices/wioa-scholarship/.
CompTIA certifications at KCC
KCC offers training and certification exams from CompTIA®. It’s the starting point for a career in information technology. Students can progress through several options:
In-person and online/self-paced options are available. All students have 12-month access to CompTIA online content.
New students can get started at https://itcert.kcc.edu/.
KCC is offering workshops for students and their parents to get assistance filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Choose one workshop. Each is from 6-8 p.m.:
Experts from KCC’s Office of Financial Aid will help people get their FAFSA done at the event.
All sessions are provided as a public service and are open to students and parents regardless of the college they plan to attend.
The 2025-26 FAFSA is available now. More resources are available at www.kcc.edu/financialaid and www.kcc.edu/scholarships.
