Organization Name: Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Executive Leader / Title: George Wright, CEO
Website: https://chicookworks.org/
Tell us about your organization’s mission and the communities you serve.
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) is a founding member of MUS and the nonprofit umbrella organization overseeing one of the largest public workforce systems in the country. As the designated administrator of federal workforce development funding for the City of Chicago and Cook County, The Partnership manages a network of approximately 70 community-based organizations, including American Job Centers and Career Centers, serving youth and adults. The Partnership manages Local Workforce Innovation Area (LWIA) 7, the largest of 22 in Illinois. The organization also oversees a diverse portfolio of corporate and philanthropic workforce initiatives that leverage non-federal funding.
What are the key services and programs you offer?
The Partnership provides workforce development services for adults, dislocated workers, youth ages 16–24, and employers. Its network includes WIOA-funded services as well as initiatives supported by partners such as the Illinois Tollway and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The Partnership also created the City of Chicago’s Contact Tracing Corps and utilized ARPA funding on behalf of Cook County to serve residents facing a variety of barriers who had been negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. The organization focuses on high-demand sectors through four Specialized American Job Centers in Healthcare, IT, Transportation, Distribution and Logistics, and Hospitality and Tourism. Career seekers may access training through more than 1,300 approved providers using Individual Training Accounts. The Partnership also works with approximately 2,000 employer partners, supporting On-the-Job Training, Incumbent Worker Training, Rapid Response services, and registered apprenticeships. In addition, the organization regularly hosts large-scale hiring events, many of which result in on-the-spot interviews and conditional job offers
.Can you share a success story or impactful moment from your work?
The Partnership highlights success stories weekly, grounded in the belief that workforce development is economic development. While the organization consistently meets and exceeds WIOA performance measures, it places equal emphasis on meaningful impact. In Program Year 2024, participants working with the Partnership’s network earned $153.5 million in wages. Hiring events hosted across the network are known for their high energy and optimism, often resulting in conditional job offers on the spot and challenging the narrative that people do not want to work.
Why did you join MUS?
The Partnership joined MUS to engage in a Midwest-centered workforce development network that aligns policy, practice, and advocacy. MUS provides a platform to share best practices, coordinate across states, and elevate workforce priorities related to employer engagement, federal funding, and system alignment.
Staff benefit from peer learning opportunities, site visits, and access to best practices from other metropolitan workforce organizations. During a challenging year, MUS membership provided access to federal advocacy support and timely policy insight. The Partnership also contributed to the MUS community by leading a member-only Learning Lab focused on budget stress testing and financial resilience.
MUS has strengthened collaboration with peer workforce organizations through shared resources, communications strategies, and employer engagement approaches. Regular communications forums have provided insight into effective tools, outreach strategies, and events used across the region.
Fun Fact - Share something unique about your organization, team, or history that people may not know.
The Partnership’s staff reflects the communities it serves and brings deep experience across workforce development, public policy, and employer engagement. Sixty-five percent of the staff are women.