Rockford’s Rock Valley Community College has received a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to increase access to training and skill development in high-demand manufacturing fields.
They will collaborate with Crystal Lake’s McHenry County College and Freeport’s Highland Community College to achieve this goal.
The Illinois Community College Board will provide strategic guidance for the expanded programs.
This initiative aims to train an additional 700 students in manufacturing careers over the four-year grant period.
“The future of manufacturing is in Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to this federal grant, Rock Valley Community College and its partners will provide stipends and train hundreds of students for in-demand, high-paying manufacturing jobs. This endeavor, along with the investments my administration has made, strategically expands the talent pipeline Illinois companies need to remain competitive globally. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Illinois’ manufacturing sector is a powerhouse, contributing nearly 13% to the state’s economy with a value of $115 billion.
Furthermore, the top 15 manufacturing jobs are expected to see a significant rise of 12% in the next five years.
“I am grateful for my colleagues Chris Kuberski (Highland Community College) and Dr. Clinton Gabbard (McHenry County College). Together, we will work within our college districts to strengthen collaborations with business and industry partners to enhance access to advanced manufacturing education and training,” said Rock Valley College President Dr. Howard J. Spearman. “These efforts will help us to close equity gaps by increasing enrollment, completion, and employment rates for women, African American, and Hispanic students.”
The Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants help community colleges prepare students for high-paying careers with room for growth.
“ICCB is excited to partner with these outstanding community colleges to provide more flexible learning options for students so they can return to or enter meaningful and sustainable employment as quickly as possible. We are excited to help set the strategic direction of this expansion that meets the consortium’s equity goals and help them engage with a wide range of external partners to drive awareness and recruitment,” said ICCB Executive Director Brian Durham.
“Hiring qualified workers is one of the key challenges facing manufacturers across Illinois. This grant will help address that issue by providing students access to important training opportunities that will better prepare them for high-paying jobs in an exciting field,” said Sarah Hartwick, Vice President of Education & Workforce Policy for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Executive Director of the IMA’s Education Foundation. “By investing in our workforce, we can build stronger, more prosperous communities across Illinois.”
Rock Valley College, along with 40 other community colleges nationwide, was chosen to receive a $65 million federal grant.
This program aims to boost job skills training to meet the growing needs of employers and equip more students with the qualifications for high-paying careers.