With the unemployment rate in Chicago reaching 10.4 percent in June and career fairs drawing out 10,000 job seekers, it is evident that residents are feeling the impact of the jobs crisis and sputtering economy.

One local program is looking to help those who have lost their jobs, especially the long-term unemployed, boost their chances of finding work -- all while providing a bit of much-needed financial relief to participants.

The Chicago Career Tech program provides "job retraining" to mid-career workers who lost their jobs, typically by way of downsizing or outsourcing.The program provides participants with classroom training and education for technology-based jobs. Students of the program also get hands-on experience at local businesses and non-profits and can also earn classroom training certifications at no cost. If accepted into the six-month program, which does require participants to do homework, students will receive a small monthly stipend that will not interfere with their ability to continue to collect unemployment benefits.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• City of Chicago resident
• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• Unemployed (after January 1, 2008), with previous annual income of $25,000 to $80,000 (NEW!)
• Currently collecting or have exhausted unemployment insurance in the State of Illinois
• Not currently enrolled in another job training program

Here's a look at the job retraining program from CBS 2:

Chicago Career Tech is currently accepting applications for the next training cycle, which has about 300 available slots. The deadline to apply is September 2. For more on the Chicago Career Tech Program, click here. To apply for one of the 300 available spots, click here.