West Cook News

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has announced the launch of the Cook County Manufacturing Apprenticeship Accelerator program, aimed at providing manufacturers in the county with a "concierge service" to identify and screen candidates for vacant U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)-registered apprenticeships. President Preckwinkle emphasized the program's goal to accelerate talent acquisition for manufacturers and career pathways for individuals interested in manufacturing, calling it a win-win situation for all. She expressed gratitude to Skills for Chicagoland’s Future for their partnership in this initiative.

"Hands down, apprenticeships represent the best way to pass on the acquired knowledge of working trade professionals with 30 years of experience to the next generation of workers," said Tom Simeone, president of Manor Tool and Manufacturing Company in Schiller Park, highlighting the importance of apprenticeships in the manufacturing industry.

Skills for Chicagoland’s Future will work directly with employers to meet their talent needs and provide supportive services to apprentices during their initial 90 days of employment. Pam Tully, president and chief operating officer at Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to help overlooked talent connect with employers for stable and economically mobile careers.

The Manufacturing Apprenticeship Accelerator is funded by $810,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act and will operate until April 2026. The program aims to address the challenge many manufacturers face in finding skilled employees by creating a pipeline of trained workers. It will also connect local manufacturers with support from Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit, to build a skilled workforce for careers in advanced manufacturing.

Cook County has grouped all its manufacturing programs under the umbrella of M3, which stands for Metro, Manufacturing, Momentum, to support and unite the region's manufacturing ecosystem. The county's Bureau of Economic Development (BED) is overseeing the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Accelerator program.

For more information about the program, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development website.