The College of Lake County (CLC) will be able to further advance its strategic efforts to increase manufacturing career pathway opportunities to address the high-demand skilled talent pipeline needs of Lake County manufacturers thanks to the support of Congressman Brad Schneider and the recent approval of a competitive community project included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Funding Bill, recently signed into law by President Joe Biden.
CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick said, “These funds will be leveraged to continue the momentum already underway with the development of the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Gurnee, Illinois. The resources will address three critical needs – establishing a regional Manufacturing Alliance to synergize employers to address the root causes of the talent pipeline shortages, upskilling faculty on specialized industry-relevant certifications and supplying the equipment necessary to deliver curriculum in the certifications, and launch a career pathway for Industrial Maintenance Technology, including direct financial support for students in the costs of training and apprenticeships.”
Lake County Partners President Kevin Considine said, “With Lake County being the second-largest manufacturing county in the state, this award supports investment in a critical industry sector – both on the attraction and growth side for businesses. We thank Congressman Schneider for his work in securing funding for this exciting initiative.”
CLC is one of 89 community colleges across the country to be awarded more than $95 million in funds when Congress passed the bipartisan Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 earlier this month. The spending package contains $1.5 trillion in discretionary resources to invest in the American people. CLC was one of ten projects Congressman Schneider of the Illinois 10th District earmarked in the bill. These projects represent solutions to the district’s largest problems and were carefully chosen from a field of more than 60 applicants.
Congressman Schneider said, “Funding for CLC’S workforce development project will directly help Lake County workers and spur economic development in our community. The program at College of Lake County will train workers for high-quality manufacturing jobs and then directly connect them with employers in the Tenth District. I am thrilled to have helped secure funding for this vital program, which will establish a strong talent pipeline for one of Lake County’s most in-demand industries.”
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