Will and Grundy County Students Attend Manufacturing Day in Joliet

The Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association (TRMA) and Joliet Junior College (JJC) partnered to host local high school students, including those from Joliet, Lockport, Plainfield, Romeoville and the Wilco Area Career Center, as part of their fifth annual Manufacturing Day event. In total, approximately 750 students from 14 schools across Will and Grundy counties met with four dozen different organizations to learn more about careers in the manufacturing industry.

View photos from the event.

“This event was about companies reaching tomorrow’s workforce at an early age,” said Mike Brose, TRMA board chairperson and plant manager for Flint Hills Resources.  “We wanted to open their minds to the world of manufacturing and inspire them to take a path that will lead them to a rewarding and successful career.”

To that end, 48 manufacturing or related organizations came together to show students what they do; highlight science, technology and innovation in manufacturing; and draw attention to rewarding manufacturing careers.

Students played a “Manufacturing Jeopardy” game, participated in a STEM exposition staffed by manufacturers and related industries allowing students an up-close look at the science and technology that drives today’s manufacturing industry, and attended an opening session, highlighted by keynote speaker EJ Carrion, best-selling author and founder of CEO Student Success Agency.

“We appreciated the opportunity for our students to interact with our local industry and witness amazing and rewarding STEM careers available in their own backyard,” said Dr. Cheryl McCarthy, superintendent of Joliet Township High School #204.

“Being able to partner with local industry is an important component of a successful educational program, and we are grateful to TRMA and JJC for providing this unique opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Kenny Lee, superintendent of Minooka Community High School District #111. 

TRMA-JJC MFG DAY event is part of a nationwide effort by the National Association of Manufacturers  (NAM) to start a growing grassroots movement dedicated to overcoming the shared challenges facing manufacturers today. There are 2,507 MFG Day events planned in 2018.

According to the NAM, “taken alone, manufacturing in the United States would be the ninth-largest economy in the world.” Therefore, American manufacturing is doing well.  However, NAM’s research also indicated that over the next decade, nearly three-and-a-half million manufacturing jobs will be needed, and two million are expected to go unfilled.  This projection is not simply because American manufacturing is doing so well, rather their research identified a growing skills gap. Today’s modern manufacturing needs workers with higher skills—including technical and scientific skills—than are available.  According to NAM, “Right now, manufacturers in the United States have nearly 500,000 open positions, and the workforce crisis is only projected to get worse with the industry having to fill millions of open jobs in the coming years.”

According to Dr. Judy Mitchell, JJC president, the college develops and supports opportunities like MFG Day to give students hands-on opportunities to explore, learn, and discuss careers with the companies that will eventually hire them.

“It’s important to do more than simply talk to high school students about the importance of going to college or getting a degree. Helping students identify what their career is, and connecting them to the right academic or career training program that will lead them to that career is what this is all about,” said Mitchell.

Manufacturers in Will and Grundy counties are vital to our economy; for every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.89 is added to the economy.   Manufacturers also recognize the value of quality education.  Thus, engaging local students to explore manufacturing careers is not only a great business decision today, but it also ensures the future of our great local communities.

For media inquiries, contact TRMA Executive Director Ray Woodworth at 815-774-6070 or ray.woodworth@trma.org, or JJC Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at 815-280-2844 or sharvey@jjc.edu.

About Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association

Since its inception in 1933, TRMA has been serving and promoting manufacturing in our region. Manufacturing remains strong in Will and Grundy counties with over 20,000 jobs that pay the one of the highest wages of any economic sector. Additionally, manufacturing is vital to our local economy, as every dollar in final sales of manufactured products supports $1.33 in output from other sectors—this is the largest multiplier of any sector. TRMA members have an annual payroll of $700 million plus local purchases of over $500 million, a major boost to the local economies.

About Joliet Junior College

Founded in 1901, Joliet Junior College is the nation’s first public community college. JJC enriches people’s lives through affordable, accessible, and quality programs and services. The college provides transfer and career preparation, training and workforce development, and a lifetime of learning to the diverse community it serves. The college’s initial enrollment was six students; today, JJC serves more than 38,000 students in credit and noncredit courses. Learn more at www.jjc.edu.

About MFG Day

MFG DAY addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is — and what it isn’t. By working together during and after MFG DAY, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry.