Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) made $24 million available in grant funding to establish six new Manufacturing Training Academies (MTAs) at community colleges in the state’s downstate regions. Grantees will be selected through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process.
The state plans to deploy capital grants to support the creation of additional MTAs and provide facility upgrades and equipment needed to train the next generation of manufacturing workers in priority industries, such as manufacturing and clean energy production.
The new funding follows recent Illinois manufacturing projects announced by Rockford Brake Manufacturing, Cache Energy, NANO Nuclear and more.
"Since the program’s inception, Manufacturing Training Academies have been an important link between growing manufacturers and the skilled workforce they need, creating stronger ties between industry and community colleges to build new opportunities for people in those regions,” DCEO Director Kristin Richards said.
Eligible applicants include community colleges outside of Cook and the collar counties, excluding previous MTA awardees. Through the NOFO, qualified entities can apply for grants from $3 million to $6 million. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until April 30 or until funds are exhausted.
The MTA program was created in Illinois’ 2019 Economic Growth Plan, which led to DCEO providing two awards to construct and equip MTA facilities in north central and southwestern Illinois. In February 2024, Heartland Community College in Normal opened an Electric Vehicle Energy Storage Manufacturing Training Academy in partnership with automotive manufacturer Rivian, with programs focused on robotics, HVAC, welding, digital media and electric vehicles.
Five months later, grant funding enabled Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville to open a 33,000-square-foot manufacturing education hub, which included additive manufacturing, tool and die mold-making and advanced automation/multi-axis computer numerical control certificates.
The state also supported clean energy manufacturing training programs at Richland Community College and Kankakee Community College.
To view the NOFO and apply for the grant, visit the DCEO website. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to [email protected] for application assistance.
