Business Briefs

BOLINGBROOK -- A ribbon cutting was held Thursday for the new Goya Midwest Distribution Center in the Carlow Corporate Center.

Goya is the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.

The new center will serve as a warehouse, production/and distribution facility with more than 154,000 square feet. It will employ more than 80 people. It also will serve as a distribution hub for Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, where there has been a significant increase in the Hispanic population, according to the company.

JOLIET -- Dr. Mable Blackwell has been appointed chief medical officer of the Will County Community Health Center , a division of the Will County Health Department.

Prior to her appointment she served as a medical director in the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Blackwell is a board-certified physician, a researcher and an Academician with more than 25 years of experience in public health. She holds master's degrees in public health and the biological sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Blackwell has served as a consultant and research partner to many major foundations and professional organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health and the Illinois Office of the Inspector General.

JOLIET -- The Mobile Learning Center of the Workforce Services Division, a department of Will County government, helps people find jobs and helps businesses find people to fill those jobs.

The center will be at these locations (9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. unless otherwise specified):

Monday: Bolingbrook IDES, 321 Quadrangle Drive.

Tuesday: University Park Town Center, 90 Town Center.

Wednesday: Frankfort library, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road.

Thursday: Lockport Central Square, 222 E. Ninth St.

Friday: Plainfield library, 15025 N. Illinois St.

For more information call 815-727-4444 or go to www.jobs4people.org .

PLAINFIELD -- Alvaro Acosta , employee of the Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop in Plainfield, completed these courses at the Merlin Training Center in Geneva: Hybrid Vehicle Systems I, which combines classroom and hands-on, in-shop instruction and involves the safety requirements and skills required to service several types of hybrid vehice systems; and Hybrid Vehicle Systems II, which focuses on the detailed maintenance knowledge of hybrid vehicles and hybrid vehicle systems.

"The knowledge and skills I gained from the courses help me stay current with the latest auto service technology," Acosta said.

For more information, contact Alvaro Acosta at 815-609-9070.

UNIVERSITY PARK -- CenterPoint at Governors State University will host its semiannual, award-winning Veterans Entrepreneurial Boot Camp from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 18.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

The camp is offered at no cost to veterans or the families/business partners of those serving in the military. The event is co-sponsored by Phoenix Business Solutions, Accion Chicago, GSU and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The day features presentations and seminars from industry professionals, opportunities for free one-on-one counseling, lunch with a panel of ex-military business owners who share their entrepreneurial journey, and access to CenterPoint's numerous entrepreneurial services and resources.

Seating is limited to 100 participants and registration is required in advance. Call The CenterPoint for Entrepreneurs at 708-534-4929 or visit www.centerpointgsu.com.

SCHAUMBURG -- Comcast is accepting nominations from high school principals and guidance counselors of high school seniors who have a grade point average of 2.8 or higher for the 2010 Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program.

Scholarships are awarded annually in an amount of $1,000. The program is also open to home-schooled seniors.

Dec. 11 is the deadline for nominations. One student per high school can be nominated.

Winners will be notified by the end of January

For information, visit www.comcast.com/scholarships .

NAPERVILLE -- Nicor Gas announced its continued partnership with Jewel-Osco to help families in need with their heating bills this winter season.

When customers at any Jewel-Osco make a purchase on the dates listed below, 5 percent of their total bill will go to the Sharing Program, which is administered by the Salvation Army and provides financial assistance to people who need help with their heating bills

Jewel-Osco shoppers can participate by simply presenting a Shop & Share Coupon to the cashier at the time of their purchases.

Coupons are available on the company's Web site at www.nicorgas.com and also in the October Energy Spotlight Newsletter mailed to Nicor Gas customers in their latest billing statement.

Customers can cut out the coupons and present them to a Jewel-Osco cashier on these dates:

• Monday through Wednesday

• Nov. 9-11

• Nov. 16-18

Sharing Program applicants must apply in-person at Salvation Army offices. Business Briefs