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.”