Community members can get the nuts and bolts on manufacturing careers – from information on paid internships and advanced training opportunities to details on manufacturing credentials and anticipated pay and benefits in the various career options – at a Manufacturing Day event hosted by Harper College.
The free event, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5 in Harper’s Wojcik Conference Center, boasts exhibitors from more than a dozen manufacturing companies, as well as a slate of speakers. It comes on the heels of a nearly $13 million federal grant allowing for the statewide expansion of Harper’s new Advanced Manufacturing program.
Seth Harris of the Department of Labor will formally announce that award at the event; Mike Holewinski of the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association and Harry Moser, President and CEO of the Reshoring Initiative – a project aimed at bringing well-paying manufacturing jobs back to the United States – also will address attendees.
“We’re hopeful this event will give the community a sense of what manufacturing means in the 21st century,” said Maria Coons, Executive Director of Workforce and Strategic Alliances at Harper College. “It’s important to change the long-held perceptions of manufacturing,” said Coons. “There are high-paying jobs available for people with the right skills, and our goal at Harper is to educate about the opportunities and make sure those pursuing them have the training they need to be successful.”
The College’s new Advanced Manufacturing program builds on partnerships with more than 70 area manufacturers to place students into paid internships, with an overall goal of credentialing students and addressing a national shortage of skilled workers. Manufacturing Day is a national initiative to expand knowledge about and improve general public perception of manufacturing careers and manufacturing’s value to the U.S. economy. To RSVP to the event or for more information, visit www.harpercollege.edu.
Information provided by Harper College
