Bid Credit Program Events

March 2026

March 2 & 3, 2026 - Oakbrook, IL ASA Chicago & Construction Safety Council 2026 Construction Expo & Safety Conference

March 3 & 4, 2026 - Urbana- Champaign, IL Illinois Transportation & Highway Engineering (T.H.E.) Conference

March 20, 2026 - Oakbrook, IL Illinois Plumbers Heating Cooling Contractors (IPHCC) Expo 2026

March brought a whirlwind of events for the construction and building trades industry, and the Bid Credit Program (BCP) Team made every effort to keep up with the momentum! Whether hosting a vendor booth or just attending, several construction expos and safety conferences were on the roster for the BCP Team in March!

Pictured above: Rosalia Boccardi, Bid Credit Program.

Pictured left to right: Marisa Litoborski, ASA; Rosalia Boccardi, Bid Credit Program.

Why do we attend all these events? The BCP is the main source of outreach for all of our Office of IL Works (ILW) Programs. Attending all these events allows us to meet YOU! We strive to educate you about all ILW Programs, while making meaningful connections along the way!

Whether you are new to ILW and want to learn more, or ready to start earning bid credits and want to find a Qualified Apprentice, we are here to help! Our Thursday Technical Assistance Sessions are always a great place to start. Just click this Webex link anytime between 10-11 am on Thursdays for one-on-one assistance!

Illinois Plumbers Heating Cooling Contractors (ILPHCC) Expo 2026

Drury Lane Conference Center

Oakbrook Terrace, IL

March 20, 2026

Illinois Transportation & Highway Engineering (T.H.E.) Conference

I Hotel & Conference Center

Urbana-Champaign, IL

March 3 & 4, 2026

Association of Subcontractors & Associates (ASA) & Construction Safety Council

2026 Construction Expo & Safety Conference

Drury Lane Conference Center

Oakbrook Terrace, IL

March 2 & 3, 2026


Pictured above (left to right): Rosalia Boccardi, Bid Credit Program, Vivian Phillips, Black Contractors Owners & Executives, Lisa Toney, Black Contractors Owners & Executives.	Pictured above (back row; left to right): Rosalia Boccardi, Bid Credit Program and Vivian Phillips, Black Contractors Owners & Executives; (front row, left to right): Lisa Toney, Black Contractors Owners & Executives and Patricia Moore, Chicago Cook WF Partnership.

February 2026

Quad Cities Builders & Remodelers Association 

2026 Home Show

The Bend Expo Center – East Moline, IL

February 14 – 16, 2026

The Bid Credit Program Team attended the 2026 Home Show at the Bend Expo Center in East Moline on Saturday, February 14. In an effort to reach stakeholders as far as the State border, we were excited to have the opportunity to meet the locals – residents and businesses from the Quad-Cities area while educating them on the benefits of Il Works and the Bid Credit Program. Earning bid credits is a way for contractors to get that competitive edge when bidding on State-funded capital projects ($500K+). Learn more about earning bid credits here!

Next Generation of Construction Trade Apprentices The Quad City Builders & Remodelers Association (QCBR) is a leader in bringing together and supporting their local community, especially the next generation of construction trade workers. QCBR is an advocate for young individuals by giving them hands-on learning opportunities. The Student Built Home Program and the Build My Future career fair are just a couple of ways. This year’s Home Show also hosted a Student Trades Room filled with hand-crafted items (benches, lawn chairs, sandbox cover/bench) made for a silent auction by local area high school students, with all proceeds being reinvested back into their schools, Build My Future events, and Student Scholarship Funds.

Here at the Office of IL Works, we are anticipating many of these young individuals will continue their career pathway into the construction trades by taking advantage of one of the IL Works Construction Pre-apprenticeship Training Programs. Click to see a Heat Map and list of Pre-apprenticeship Program Providers in your area!

Women in Construction The Quad City Builders & Remodelers Association (QCBR) also launched their own National Association Home Builders (NAHB) Professional Women in Building Council (PWB) Quad-Cities in late 2024. As a leader in the community, the QCBR supports local women in various roles in the construction industry trades (builders, designers, realtors, brokers, lenders, developers).

IL Works is committed to serving women who are among one of the underrepresented populations in the construction trades. One of IL Works Pre-apprenticeship training partners, Chicago Women in Trades, is a leader in providing women the tools and support to navigate the challenges of entering into the construction trades industry. For more information about one of our IL Works Construction Pre-apprenticeship Training Programs click here!

Shout Out to Our Veterans! IL Works Pre-apprenticeship Program prioritizes veterans as one of the underrepresented populations in the construction industry trades. Our IL Works Construction Pre-apprenticeship Program prepares veterans for an apprenticeship in the construction trades, while our Career Services Team helps them connect to potential employers and enter into a DOL-RAP once they graduate.

Learn more about Career Services here!

We also want to give a shout out to Veteran Kenneth Hall who was at the 2026 Home Show. This 90 year old veteran served in the US Navy and intends to continue to serve his community as a volunteer at the next Build My Future career fair April 21, 2026, at the QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island.

For more info about this event, click here.

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Bid Credit Program Events

Bid Credit Program Events