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 A $15
million capital investment through the Governor’s bipartisan Rebuild
Illinois capital plan will establish two downstate manufacturing
training academies that will provide hundreds of Illinois residents
the opportunity to develop specialized skills for a career in
advanced manufacturing.
“Today, I’m proud to announce the winning projects that will launch
two cutting edge new programs here in Illinois, which will begin
enrolling students later this year,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
“This capital investment – spurred by our historic Rebuild Illinois
capital program – builds on the funding that Rebuild already devotes
to upgrading and expanding facilities at Illinois community
colleges, cementing their key role in continuing to train our young
workforce, and lifelong learners keeping their skills fresh. Today
is just one indicator of the job and skills growth our state is
seeing. Workforce investments like those we’re announcing here
foreshadow even more good jobs we can fill in the future.”
The new training facilities will be established at Heartland
Community College (HCC) in Normal, and Southwestern Illinois College
(SWIC) in Metro East. State funds will be met with $4.95 million in
matching commitments for capital projects, as well as additional
support from employers and regional partners to establish new
training academies.
“Today’s announcement delivers on a key commitment made under
Governor Pritzker’s 5-year economic plan, which calls for
investments in downstate communities to prepare our next generation
of workers with a pathway to well-paying jobs of the future,” said
Sylvia Garcia, Acting Director of the Illinois Department of
Commerce & Economic Opportunity. “As the electric vehicle industry
and other advanced manufacturing roles see increasing demand – in
Illinois, we are preparing to seize those jobs, with investments
made across our communities and to maintain our state as a top
destination for companies to grow and invest.”
Programs are expected to launch later this year, enrolling hundreds
of students in the first year of the program. While each program
will have a different focus, both will help meet the demand for
state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing training downstate,
preparing Illinoisans to seize on advanced careers in the
manufacturing sector in the years ahead.
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“Community Colleges play an essential role in providing
affordable and equitable access to education, and in turn, a pathway to
sustainable careers. And partnership is key to building and maintaining the
workforce needed to fulfil the promise of innovation in technical education and
to grow the economy,” said Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille.
“Working with the DECO and Rivian, and our other regional manufacturing
partners, we gain key pieces in providing a pathway to a sustainable career for
students both coming right out of High School and also those who look to
re-enter the workforce. With the new Electric Vehicle-Energy Storage
Manufacturing Training Academy, Heartland Community College will be a hub for
innovation, and a resource for those looking for upskilling in a wide variety of
occupations.”
At Heartland, a $7.5 million grant from the State will enable the development of
the new Electric Vehicle-Energy Storage Manufacturing Training Academy (EVES).
This first-of-its-kind EV manufacturing training program is made possible by a
partnership with electric vehicle manufacturer, Rivian, which is expected to
create an additional 1,600 jobs in the next two years alone. Matching state
funds with a $1.5 million private employer commitment, HCC will develop a new
auto shop used exclusively for training for EV manufacturing. This program will
help meet growing needs of the region and will prepare Illinois to seize on the
rapid growth of the EV industry, with Illinois jobs expected to double by 2024.
“Rivian is honored to have supported the leadership of Governor Pritzker in
establishing the Electric Vehicle-Energy Storage Manufacturing Training
Academy,” said James Chen, Vice President of Public Policy and Chief Regulatory
Counsel for Rivian. “This project will help prepare local workers for the
well-paid, technical jobs that the clean energy transition requires. This
project also reflects Rivian’s core values of community empowerment, innovation,
and a strong foundation for the continued growth and success of the electric
vehicle industry. We thank Governor Pritzker, the Illinois DCEO, and Heartland
Community College for making this academy a reality.”
For more information on the two Manufacturing Training Academies programs,
please visit DCEO’s website.
[Submitted by Steve FAst, Heartland
Community College] |
