Kaskaskia College President George Evans says the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has awarded the college $6-million to establish one of five new downstate Manufacturing Training Academies. Governor JB Pritzker made the announcement on Monday.
Evans says that as part of the process to seek the grant the majority of design plans have already been developed for the new 35,000 square foot state of the art facility that will be constructed next to the nursing building at the front of the campus along Shattuc Road. It will house all the trades currently at the Crisp Technology Center which the new academy will replace.
Evans expects bids on the project to be sought shortly with completion of the new building possible in about a year. The entire cost will be covered by the state grant.
Evans says the faculty members who teach at Crisp will all have a role in planning the new facility’s function, looking forward ten to 50 years. He notes programs will serve traditional college age students, those still in high school, and those returning to the college for retraining.
The grants will fund construction, facility improvements, and modern equipment needed to prepare students for increasingly technical manufacturing careers. The academies will also work with regional employers to align training with local workforce needs and connect graduates with available jobs.
Governor Pritzker says manufacturing has powered Illinois communities for generations — and they are making sure Illinois workers lead the next era of this industry. At the same time, they are giving manufacturers another reason to invest, expand, and create jobs right here in Illinois.
Other community colleges receiving funds to create the academies are Illinois Central College, Lake Land College, Lewis and Clark Community College, and Parkland College. Programs will focus on high-demand fields, including automation, robotics, industrial maintenance, machining, metal fabrication, and biomanufacturing.
The President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association Mark Denzler says building a skilled workforce of the future is essential for manufacturers to succeed and for Illinois’ economy to grow.
“With an estimated 3.8 million more manufacturing workers needed nationwide by 2033, Illinois is tackling this challenge head on with the creation of best-in-class Manufacturing Academies. We’re proud to partner with the Governor and General Assembly to make these academies a reality and advance other important workforce development initiatives including apprenticeship tax credits, dual credit programs, and a new law that expands access to hands-on-learning opportunities by allowing students to choose Career & Technical Education classes in lieu of foreign language requirement.”
