A new biodiesel plant opened in Danville, Ill., this month, creating some new Illinois science jobs.

The plant, operated by Blackhawk Biofuels, has created 27 new jobs. The company recently created its first biodiesel, which is stored in holding tanks at the site, according to an article by the Commercial News. Renewable Energy Group contracted with Blackhawk to purchase animal fat feed stock to be used in combination with soybean from Bunge to create the biodiesel.

The state provided about $20 million to supplement a $75 million private investment for the plant. The Illinois Finance Authority also provided almost $5 million in Opportunity Returns grants through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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Some Illinois healthcare jobs will soon be lost as a major institution cuts jobs.

The University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago recently announced its plan to eliminate 200 positions during the next eight months, according to an article by WBEZ. The job cuts, which will include mostly non-clinical positions, are expected to save the hospital more than $25 million next year.

Hospital officials say the job cuts are necessary as the hospital has to reduce its budget because of the poor economy. And while some government reimbursement is hoped for, it won’t make up for the rising cost of healthcare.

“At this point we don’t expect at all that it will impact the quality of healthcare or patient safety here,” Spokesperson Sherri McGinnes Gonzalez said in the article. “This is something that we are taking thoughtful and deliberate actions now to hopefully avoid tougher decisions later.”

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Some workers were lucky enough to secure Illinois law enforcement jobs, but state residents are complaining their posts are unnecessary.

The State of Illinois recently announced that 208 prison guards had been hired, a move that is putting some people in an uproar after the state decided to cut other positions because of budget complications. According to an article by The Associated Press, the Department of Corrections hired the employees to work at the Thomson Correctional Center at a cost of $10.8 million for the first year of work.

The workers were tapped to provide security at the prison, which is located in northwestern Illinois, for inmates being transferred from Pontiac Prison. Pontiac Prison is slated to close in an effort to save $4 million per year. However, the prison is currently still open because of a lawsuit filed by union officials.

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Those seeking labor jobs in Illinois will soon have some help.

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich recently announced that skilled trade workers would be able to participate in the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program. This program is part of the government’s effort to help connect Illinois workers with services improve their skills and find jobs in the current suffering economy. It is expected the program will provide training for more than 700 trades workers, create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

“Across the nation, people are having a tough time finding jobs and in response to that here in Illinois I am urging workers in the skilled trades to apply for the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program,” Blagojevich said in a press release. “During the current economic situation this program can help connect people with work to see them and their families through this difficult time.”

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