ConstructionWorks

Program

The ConstructionWorks program is an innovative program that assists men and women into entering careers in the heavy highway and related construction industry. The program creates a pool of diversified candidates ready to work and linking them to hiring construction contractors.  

The ConstructionWorks program is funded by the Tollway and administered by the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership.   

ConstructionWorks services are conveniently available throughout Illinois.   

Location Maps

Regional

>>Click the map to download.  

Chicago

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For Employment Candidates: 

Start your career in Construction

By joining our program, you will gain access to comprehensive training, job placement assistance, and a network with construction companies that are hiring.

Through ConstructionWorks, candidates will be connected to an experienced team member who specializes in customized construction industry preparation.

To better assist with long-term career success, the program will also provide support services for candidates to overcome barriers to attain employment.

Interested? Complete the ConstructionWorks Candidate Interest form.

What You Gain

How It Works

Are you ready to start a career in construction?

• Can you work outdoors in hot and cold environments?
• Do you mind getting dirty on the job?
• Are you able to work on your feet 8 hours or more a day?
• Can you lift over 50 pounds?

If you answered YES!

To Qualify:

• Must want to work in the construction industry.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Eligible to work in the United States.
• Have a High School Diploma or GED.

For Construction Contractors:

The ConstructionWorks program provides you with direct access to a pool of diverse employment candidates with all levels of skills to fill your workforce needs. Our candidates are housed in the Tollway’s Hiring Portal, where you can search for the right candidates and track your efforts.

In addition, by hiring and retaining ConstructionWorks candidates, contractors—both prime and subcontractors are eligible to receive the following incentives:

First Incentive: Cash Reimbursement
For every hour worked by a CW hired candidate on Tollway projects, contractors can receive a $15 cash reimbursement. The maximum limit for this reimbursement can be up to an impressive $100,000, depending on the contract.

Second Incentive: Bid Credits
Bid Credits are virtual dollars contractors, and subcontractors earn for every dollar paid to a CW candidate on any Tollway construction project or any construction project in Illinois.

Bid Credits are a great tool that allows the contractor or subcontractor to accumulate them and use them to lower their bid and increase their chances of winning the contract as the lower bidder on future construction projects advertised by the Tollway.

ConstructionWorks Bid Credits are awarded as follows:

• Operating Engineers and Structural Steel Ironworkers: .75 cents on the dollar
• Skilled Trades and Fabricators – .65 cents on the dollar
• Laborers – .55 cents on the dollar
• First-time CW hires earn an additional $5,000 bid credit bonus after accumulating 160 work hours.

Note: Bid credits are incentives offered through three Diversity Programs, and bid credits are combined to use. These programs are ConstructionWorks (CW), Earned Credit Program (ECP), and Partnering for Growth (P4G). Here, you can see an overview of all three programs.
 

To hire a ConstructionWorks candidate and start receiving these amazing incentives. You can register to use the Tollway’s Hiring Portal.

Once your registration has been approved by the Tollway, you can begin reviewing our available ConstructionWorks candidates.

If you don’t find what you are looking for or would like individualized assistance, you can complete the Construction Contractors Interest Form, and a ConstructionWorks team member will reach out to you within 48 hours.