| About Us |
The Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council 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 advanced, high value-added manufacturing.Manufacturing is the single most important sector of the Chicago area's economy. The industry has the largest positive 'ripple effect' on the rest of the economy: each manufacturing job creates three more in related sectors. The industry is directly and indirectly responsible for over 1.7 million jobs in Chicago.The Renaissance Council's flagship initiative is Austin Polytechnical Academy (APA), an advanced manufacturing-focused public high school on Chicago's west side that prepares students for leadership in all areas of the industry.APA students learn about careers in manufacturing by working with our committed partner companies, who provide students with industry exposure and financial support. Our partners contributed over $150,000 to create our new Manufacturing Technology Center, a state of the art on-campus machining facility where students can earn industry-recognized credentials from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills. |
| Support Us | Your support makes our success possible. We need your help to deliver the resources, networks, and programs to help develop a skilled workforce and keep us on the cutting edge of innovation.
Please make your check payable to the Center for Labor & Community Research and mail it to us at 3411 West Diversey, Suite 10, Chicago, Illinois 60647. CLCR is the non-profit fiscal and operational sponsor of the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council.
You can also contribute online securely through PayPal by clicking below:
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| Contact Us | 3411 West Diversey, Suite 10
Chicago, Illinois 60647
P: 773-278-5418
F: 773-278-5918
chicagomanufacturing.org
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For-the-job training | Educating ourselves into economic recovery
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by Dan Swinney Executive Director
If you've read the news in the past two years, you've probably heard about our sky-high unemployment rates and jobless recovery. With the economy growing again, why aren't American businesses hiring?
They are -- or at least they're trying to. But the problem isn't a lack of open job positions. It's a lack of qualified applicants. We've been saying this all along, and it seems the mainstream media is finally catching on.
"Since the economy bottomed out in mid-2009, the number of job openings has risen more than twice as fast as actual hires... The disparity is most notable in manufacturing," The Wall Street Journal reported on August 9.
Continue reading |
See the future of manufacturing | IMTS Student Summit
| The Renaissance Council and NIMS invite you to join us at the International Manufacturing and Technology Show (IMTS) NIMS Student Summit ribbon cutting ceremony. APA's new principal, Mr. Fabby Williams, will cut the ribbon. He will be joined by industry leaders and a NIMS-certified APA student.
Monday, September 13 at 8:15 a.m.
McCormick Place room S105
South Building Level 1
The Student Summit is a fascinating opportunity to learn about careers in manufacturing, NIMS credentials, and cutting-edge manufacturing technology. The IMTS is America's largest manufacturing technology trade show, featuring more than 1,100 exhibitors and 92,000 guests from all over the world. |
Creating long-term growth for your business | NNSP Report
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In these tough economic times, manufacturers can create long-term growth by investing in training and career development for their frontline employees, according to a business brief recently released by the National Network for Sector Partners (NNSP), "From Hidden Costs to High Returns, Unlocking the Potential of the Lower-Wage Workforce."
The new report is based on structured interviews with employers around the nation who have achieved significant bottom line benefits by undertaking innovative training and career development efforts targeted at their lower-skilled, lower-wage workers. Find out what companies around the nation are doing to position themselves and their workers for success in the post-recession economy.
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Austin Polytech three years later | Executive Committee Meeting
| At our August 18 meeting, the Executive Committee focused on Austin Polytechnical Academy. They heard from Pete Schoedel, APA Engineering teacher, and Erica Swinney, CPE director of career and community programs.
Austin Polytech has made great strides over the past three years, especially in our career program. Just this year:
- 23 students received NIMS credentials in our new Manufacturing Technology Center.
- 11 teachers worked with industry partners to integrate manufacturing topics into their classes.
- 9 manufacturing companies hosted field trips to show students their facilities.
- 30 students were placed in summer jobs and 16 participated in job shadowing experiences.
- Nearly 100 students participated in at least one job readiness training session.
We're working to open the Manufacturing Technology Center -- made possible by over $150,000 in partner contributions -- to the Austin community, so adults can also earn NIMS credentials at APA. Our goal is to open this fall. Special thanks all our committed partners for their participation and generosity.
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Working with Germany on green energy | GACCoM Conference
| The German American Chambers of Commerce invite you to their Annual Renewables and Energy Efficiency Roadshow. This year's topic is "Supply Chain in the Renewable Energy Industry" with a focus on wind and solar.
Monday, September 21
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Hilton Rosemont/O'Hare
5550 N. River Road in Rosemont, IL
Online registration is now open. Tickets are $65 for GACCoM members and $75 for non-members. For more information, please contact Bernadett Steiner at steiner@gaccom.org or (312) 494-2180.
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STEM Education for All | Wheeling High School Conference
|  Over 300 educators, administrators, community leaders, and business partners from across the state met at Wheeling High School on August 9, 2010, for Illinois' first STEM for ALL Conference.
Conference
highlights included a morning keynote address by Dr. James McLurkin,
MIT swarm robotics engineer, and a luncheon keynote address by Dan
Swinney. The Renaissance Council applauds Wheeling High School's efforts
to raise awareness about the importance of STEM education.
With a million dollar state of the art manufacturing facility on site and the largest high school engineering program in the state, Wheeling High School is one of the first non-selective, public high schools in the country with a STEM focus serving students of all ability levels. Wheeling High School students have the opportunity to earn NIMS Level One certification and the National Career Readiness Certificate.
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