December 2024 Issue

Discover Your Path. Find Your Future.

Your resource for the latest news and updates on Effingham Regional Career Foundation and CORE Academy

WELCOME to the CORE Connection!

With only a few days left of 2024, we have much to celebrate! All of us on the ERCF Board and Committees wish everyone in our communities a safe and happy Holiday Season!

REMINDER: Add executive@effinghamregionalcareerfoundation.ccsend.com to your contact list to ensure that you receive our newsletter in your inbox.

December Brings Big News for ERCF!

ERCF Receives $50,000 Grant from T Mobile

The Effingham Regional Career Foundation was selected as one of 25 winners of the T-Mobile Hometown Grant program.

T-Mobile selects winners bases on the the impact projects will have on their communities

Not only did ERCF beat out more than 800 applicants for the third quarter grant submission process, we received the full $50,000 to use toward a drone certification course, healthcare curriculum supplies and CDL training.

Read the full T-Mobile release here.

ERCF Launches CORE Academy

The Effingham Regional Career Academy announced its evolution to CORE Academy: Creating Opportunities for Regional Employment. The rebrand reinforces the institution’s commitment to delivering essential skills-based education to both high school and adult learners across central Illinois.

The new CORE Academy name also reflects several key aspects of the institution’s identity:

Community-focused education reaching beyond traditional boundaries
Opportunities for both high school and adult learners
Real-world skills development aligned with industry needs
Excellence in technical and trade education

Read the full release here.

Fall Explore ERCA Gratuates

Twelve Effingham County high school junior and senior students received their Certificate of Completion for the Fall 2024 semester of Explore ERCA.

During their last class meeting of the semester, students shared their highlights from the semester. They enjoyed getting a glimpse of the different businesses in the region. As a result of their experiences, one student decided to change her field of study and another secured a part-time job due to his employability skills. Congratulations to this year's Explore grads!

The next Explore class will begin in Fall 2025.

Community Resources:

C.E.F.S. Literacy Program

C.E.F.S. is a not-for-profit Community Action Agency incorporated in 1965 to help people achieve their full individual and economic potential. C.E.F.S. serves the Illinois counties of Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby.

WHAT: Adult Literacy Program to help adults and families meet their literacy goals in reading, writing, math, English and life skills and to promote education and lifelong learning as the key to personal, economic and social stability.

WHERE: Within the C.E.F.S. seven-county service area.

WHO: Learners age 16 or older who may or may not have graduated from high school; non-English speakers with advanced degrees who want to learn English; those looking for employability skills or improved language comprehension.

Lessons are individualized to each learner and are free of charge.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: All tutors are volunteers who complete a 12-hour preservice training.

Learn More

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MISSION: Deliver an innovative, skills-based, sustainable educational model for career exploration and training of students and adults that leads to a pipeline of engaged team members in the regional workforce.

VISION: Provide sustainable pathways to high skills, high demand careers for high school students, adult learners and incumbent workers in order to attract, retain and grow area businesses.

CORE Academy https://coreacademyil.com/