Program Details

Boyd had been laid off on May 22, 2020, from his job as a Light Equipment Operator at LSC Communications when the plant closed. He had been scheduled to attend a rapid response meeting at his place of employment, but it was canceled due to the Covid 19 epidemic, so he needed to know his options. In the meantime, Boyd was drawing UI benefits while unsuccessfully searching for employment in his field. At the height of the COVID-19 epidemic, there were no jobs. At this time, Boyd heard about the WIOA program and came to the office to inquire about eligibility for training. Boyd had not graduated high school, but when he learned he could only get a degree by first getting his GED, he decided to do something about that. Boyd returned to the workforce center two months later with GED in hand! More than a year after he was laid off, he found out he was eligible for retraining when the LSC Communications plant closure was deemed a trade-related event. He attended a rapid response online meeting to determine his options and took this opportunity to get his AAS for IT-Network Administration. Boyd enrolled in training to meet his career goals and received an AAS in IT-Network Administration degree from Lake Land College in August 2023. He loved school, which he never thought possible. He is now employed at Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education as an IT Administrator, making $25 an hour, significantly increasing his earning potential due to his participation in training. He received services from the CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation WIOA/TAA program to pay for Occupational Classroom Training, tuition, books, and travel reimbursement for transportation costs. Boyd says he is so grateful for the opportunity he was given and always thought his whole life was to do factory work. He is now doing a job he loves and has the flexibility to do more than just ‘work’ and achieve a better work/life balance. Boyd now realizes that what at the time seemed devastating turned out to have been a blessing in disguise!