S.E.E.D.

S.E.E.D. Program OverviewContact

After careful consideration, we have decided not to offer our S.E.E.D. training program this fiscal year – which runs through June 2025.  We’ve assessed our original session of the program from last winter and decided to spend the rest of this next year conducting more research to ensure any future versions of S.E.E.D. are as effective and impactful as possible.

We will provide updates on our progress and the future of the S.E.E.D. program on this webpage. We encourage you to stay connected with us through our website and social media channels for the latest news and developments.

Please check out the following resources in your community that may offer additional support in the meantime:

Workforce Center of Will County https://will.works/  

Joliet Junior College https://jjc.edu/community/workforce-development  

National Hookup of Black Women https://www.nhbwjoliet.com/programs    

Skills, Empowerment and Economic Development

Northern Illinois Food Bank’s workforce development program, S.E.E.D. (Skills, Empowerment & Economic Development), is a PAID 10-Week Training Program offering adults who are unemployed or underemployed valuable hands-on experience and beneficial certifications to improve employability.

At this time Northern Illinois Food Bank is not accepting applications for workforce development. If you are in need of free groceries you can find resources near you with our map (https://solvehungertoday.org/get-groceries-resources). If you would like to speak to someone you can contact our SNAP outreach team at 844-600-SNAP (7627).

Mission

 

 

Connect neighbors to job training and other services aimed at increasing their employability and attaining sustainability, growth-oriented employment, and to increase their long-term economic self-sufficiency.

 

 

 

Student Profile

 

 

  • Age 25+
  • Experiencing Food Insecurity
  • Unemployed or Underemployed
  • Living in Will County
  • Motivated to Learn
  • New or Experienced in Warehouse Industry

 

S.E.E.D. Program Overview

 

  • In-person Training
  • 10-Week; 6-8 Hour Sessions
  • Paid on-the-job Training
  • Coaching
  • Case Management
  • Job Placement Assistance

*New Sessions Available Quarterly

Program Benefits

 

 

 

  • OSHA 30-hour safety course
  • Forklift Certification
  • ServSafe Food Handler’s Certification
  • Resume writing, interview preparation, and job placement assistance
  • Hands on warehouse experience at 4 different distribution centers
  • Financial Literacy

 

Workforce Development Course Content

 

 

 

 

  • Intro to Warehouse Environment
  • Warehousing and Distribution Process
  • Warehouse Technology Applications
  • Representative Warehouse Applications
  • Intro to Supply Chain Management
  • Financial Literacy

 

Food Insecurity in Will County

 

 

 

  • Food deserts are prevalent in the northern and eastern sections of Will County.
  • Will County has a particularly high population with low food access (31.8%) compared to the state of Illinois (17.39%), coupled with the highest rates of “no motor vehicle” (over 8% in 60433-Joliet).

 

 

Priority Communities

Will County has the highest concentration of temporary employment agencies in the state.

  • Reports estimate that 70% of Chicagoland warehouses employ temporary workers rather than direct hires.
  • Workers report that in suburban Will County, where many warehouses are located, it is impossible to find work anywhere other than at a staffing agency.