Make it in Illinois Program Launches

By Elizabeth Hibner
Program Manager, MI-WPC Community Insights Study

National Manufacturing Month began with great excitement on the southwest side of Chicago. On October 1, the State of Illinois launched a $5 million marketing campaign at City Colleges' Richard J. Daley College, highlighting promising career pathways in manufacturing. Make it in Illinois showcases the vitality and diversity of manufacturing roles and career opportunities across the state. 

Richard J. Daley College President, Janine Janosky, kicked off the event. "Our outstanding faculty and state-of-the-art facility prepare students for modern manufacturing roles. We can't wait to introduce more students to this field and connect employers to further accelerate Illinois' manufacturing economy. Through this campaign, Daley College will work with its network of community partners and manufacturing employers in Chicagoland to recruit job seekers, future apprentices, and students to our manufacturing education and training programs." 

Following President Janosky, Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the importance of the manufacturing industry to the state. "Over the past five years, with our shoulders to the wheel, Illinois manufacturing has been undergoing a period of growth and transformation that is powering a notable economic turnaround. We are rebuilding and reclaiming our status as a manufacturing powerhouse." 

Sarah Hartwick, Vice President of Workforce and Education Policy at the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, expressed the industry's strong support for growing the manufacturing talent pipeline in Illinois. "No matter your background, there's a manufacturing job that's right for you." 

Richard J. Daley Manufacturing Matters and Richard J. Daley College Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Center (MTEC) Executive Director, Dr. Steven Meneses, who will lead the implementation of this campaign shared, “The key drivers for this project are to connect with educational training programs and industry to create a ‘Earn as you Learn’ experience through paid apprenticeships. We look to increase enrollment within the Manufacturing-specific training programs provided by the 48 Illinois community colleges, thereby providing the pathway into manufacturing from all corners of the state and neighboring states.” 

With over 125 delegates from organizations across the state in attendance, the level of engagement and support for raising awareness about manufacturing roles in a wide range of industries—from EV to aerospace to pharma—was palpable. Attendees toured MTEC and saw the cutting-edge facility up close. Students, graduates, and faculty were on hand to answer questions about programs and share success stories. 

The Make it in Illinois website is designed to guide job seekers and prospective students to information about specific manufacturing roles, including salary, responsibilities, training opportunities, and career pathways. It all starts with finding your fit!