The National Fund for Workforce Solutions, a national network promoting economic development and opportunity, recently honored nine manufacturers across the US as Young Adult Employer Champions for promoting Pathways to Apprenticeship. Of the nine, five were Illinois manufacturers participating in ICATT Apprenticeships, a workforce development initiative led by the IMA Education Foundation in partnership with the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest and William Rainey Harper College.
The five companies, Felsomat USA, Inc. of Schaumburg, North American Lighting of Paris, Principal Manufacturing Corporation of Broadview, Richard Wolf Medical Instruments.
Corporation of Vernon Hills and Wittenstein North America of Bartlett, were honored for their exemplary work in initiating apprenticeships that prepare youth for in-demand occupations.
“We’re particularly humbled by these companies being singled out by the National Fund,” says IMA President & CEO Greg Baise. “It reflects the high quality that ICATT apprenticeships are bringing to the marketplace to help companies adopt a long-range development plan that fulfills their workforce needs.”
“The National Fund’s approach to promoting regional prosperity centers on meeting the needs of employers, while at the same time preparing unemployed and under-employed workers for careers with living wages,” National Fund President & CEO Fred Dedrick said. “The National Fund is proud to celebrate employer leaders who have the vision to recognize young adults’ potential, the commitment to help prepare and hire them in good jobs.”
The companies were invited to attend a gala dinner and award ceremony held in Philadelphia, PA in May.
For more information on ICATT Apprenticeships visit http://www.apprenticeship-il.com or call Jim Nelson at 800-875-4462, ext. 4211. ICATT Apprenticeships are funded in part by a grant from the US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship.
