| Upcoming Events |
April 29-30, 2009
Sustainable Manufacturing Summit
Learn more and sign up
May 4-7, 2009
WINDPOWER 2009 Conference and Exhibition
Learn more and sign up
May 12, 2009
ManufacturingWorks Lean Manufacturing Workshop
Learn more and sign up
|
| About Us |
The Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council (CMRC) is a partnership of the region's labor, business, government, education and community leaders working together to establish the Chicago area as a global leader in high-performance, high value-added manufacturing. Why manufacturing? |
|
CMRC Programs
|
Austin Polytechnical Academy (APA)a
Located in the West Side neighborhood of Austin, APA's mission is to to train the next generation of workers and leaders in the manufacturing economy. The innovative pre-engineering curriculum combines job shadowing and industry-recognized accreditation to prepare students for college, careers, or both. APA is now operated by the Center for Polytechnical Education, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing and replicating the APA model. For more information, visit austinpolytech.com.
Chicago Green Manufacturing Network
A new initiative to anchor the global supply chain for
wind turbine manufacturing in Chicago. The program aims to connect wind
energy Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), companies from around
the world that design and assemble turbines, to local manufacturing
companies that can produce the highly specialized, technologically
complex turbine parts that OEMs need. For more information, see our project description.
ManufacturingWorks
Manufacturing Works supports high-road economic development and helps
to increase the market share of Chicago-based manufacturing companies
by making it easier to recruit, hire and train qualified workers. The
program is demand-driven and specializes in meeting the
high-performance manufacturers' needs for a highly-skilled workforce.
Manufacturing Works also provides "lean" training to help manufacturers
cut costs and increase performance. For more information, visit chicagomfgworks.com.
Learn about our other projects
|
|
Message from the Executive Director | CMRC Partners
|
At our Executive Committee meeting in November, the CMRC approved a plan to recruit official partners -- companies, organizations, agencies, unions, and individuals that would formally support the Renaissance Council and make a modest, voluntary financial contribution. Formal partnerships help us identify to the community those who are committed to our mission and our work. Our goal is to recruit 1,000 partners in the next year.
Read more
|
Become an Official Partner of the Renaissance Council
|
 Help us make Chicago the global leader in advanced manufacturing! Our new partnership structure
will allow companies, organizations, unions, individuals, agencies, and other
stakeholders to publicly show their support for the Renaissance Council. Demonstrating the breadth of our coalition is critical step toward furthering our mission.
You can register online or download the printable PDF form. To learn more, please see our partnership details.
|
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Visits Austin Polytech (with Video!)
|
 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) paid a visit to Austin Polytech last
Friday, April 24th, less than a week after Illinois was approved for $1.4
billion in education funding from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act.
During his visit, Sen. Durbin enjoyed a cup of coffee prepared especially for him by a group of students who own and operate a coffee business. The students grind, brew, and sell the coffee as part of APA's entrepreneurship program. "We sell at least 25 or 30 cups a day," says APA student Kededra Murph. Sen. Durbin bought his own cup at full price -- $1.
Watch video, read more, and view photos
|
Emily DeRocco Addresses the CMRC Advisory Board (with Video!)
|
 At the March 18th Advisory Board meeting, Emily DeRocco, president of
the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Manufacturing
Institute, addressed the CMRC and presented the NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System.
In her speech, Emily described the Renaissance Council as the most
advanced partnership of its kind anywhere in the nation, representing a
unique coalition of regional stakeholders from all levels of society.
Emily also highlighted Austin Polytech as the most promising career
academy she has encountered to date.
Watch the video of Emily's presentation and read more
|
|
The CMRC Pursues Economic Stimulus Funding
|
 Responding to the call from our Advisory Board, the
CMRC is developing a comprehensive plan to build a workforce pipeline
for advanced manufacturing on the scale demanded by the current economic crisis and the
corresponding stimulus funding opportunities.
We have
convened a working group to outline a full proposal for federal and state
funding to dramatically strengthen our region's educational infrastructure by
increasing its size, its responsiveness to employers, and its quality. The
CMRC staff is working closely with consultants who have the experience and contacts to act quickly.
What's the plan?
|
An Evolving Partnership | the CMRC and ManufacturingWorks
|
 The Renaissance Council is deepening its strategic relationship with ManufacturingWorks, a demand-driven program that offers training and human resources solutions to enhance the performance of manufacturers in the Chicagoland area.
"We take a consultative approach to our work at companies," explains Javier Hernandez, ManufacturingWorks account executive. "We work with them to help fix their problems and implement a real systems change in manufacturing, company by company. We feel that our work is really aligned with what the CMRC is trying to do. We want to take those big ideas, formalize them, and turn them into customized solutions that we can deliver to companies."
Read more
|
Free Publicity Opportunity for Manufacturers in Chicago
|
 "Made in Chicago" is a City of Chicago program designed to highlight the city's status as one of the world's premier manufacturing centers.
Participating manufacturers are profiled in a "Made in Chicago" booklet, on the City's website, on the Explore Chicago website, and in "Made in Chicago" display cases located at the main entrance of McCormick Place and on the 10th floor of City Hall.
For more information, please contact Nisha Floyd at(773) 594-9292 x234 or nfloyd@illinoismanufacturing.org.
|
|
|
