Tour runs Oct. 2 – 9, will visit manufacturing facilities, colleges and community centers to spotlight career opportunities and highlight modern manufacturing
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) will celebrate Manufacturing Month throughout the month of October with the “Makers on the Move” statewide bus tour. In its fifth year, the tour will visit manufacturing facilities, educational institutions and community centers across Illinois to highlight the diverse, rewarding careers in manufacturing and offer an up-close look at today’s high-tech, clean, and advanced manufacturing environments.
The “Makers on the Move” bus tour will begin at TCCI Manufacturing in Decatur on Friday, Oct. 2, which is recognized nationally as Manufacturing Day. A global leader in electric and belt-driven compressors for commercial, heavy-duty, recreational and automotive specialty markets, TCCI is known for its leadership in innovation and sustainability, operating the Clean Energy Innovation Hub and the Clean Energy Workforce Academy, which are critical to Illinois’ growing electric vehicle ecosystem. Friday’s stop at TCCI will include a ribbon-cutting for the Climatic Center for Innovation & Research, one of the first and most advanced public testing facility of its kind in the United States, providing a controlled, repeatable environment to design and validate thermal and vehicle solutions under real-world conditions, helping bring road-ready technologies to market faster.
From there, the fully wrapped 45-foot bus will travel to communities throughout the state, making more than 30 stops along the way. Industry advocates traveling on the bus will be joined by educators, students, manufacturing leaders, economic development professionals, public officials and other dignitaries who will engage communities and connect employers with the next generation of talent. The bus was wrapped by Ace Sign Co. in Springfield, featuring a design inspired by Uthman Habib and Trevor Frey, graduates of Lake Park West High School in Roselle. More information about the tour, including a full list of stops, is available at https://makersonthemove.org.
“We’re excited to hit the road to spotlight the contributions of makers to our state and nation,” said Mark Denzler, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “Manufacturers are the backbone of our economy, they produce food to feed our communities, energy to power our homes and businesses, and they develop innovative technologies that are solving humanity’s greatest problems. With hundreds of thousands of open manufacturing jobs, there’s no better time to showcase the amazing career opportunities the industry offers.”
Manufacturing is the largest contributor of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product, generating more than $580 billion for the state’s economy each year. The industry directly employs 662,298 workers and supports as many as 1,771,928 jobs – nearly a third of all jobs in Illinois.
“Illinois’ manufacturing industry is worthy of celebration for its immense contributions and outstanding achievements,” said Dan Hofmann, Interim President of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. “To continue to grow, we must also share innovative ideas to solve challenges facing the industry, including prioritizing workforce development programs. We look forward to connecting with students, educators and industry leaders to build the manufacturing economy of the future.”
Nationally, there are 580,000 open jobs in the manufacturing industry, including tens of thousands of available jobs in Illinois. The IMA and IMEC are dedicated to working with employers, educators, and lawmakers to enact policies that help attract and retain a skilled workforce. That includes securing a new law to increase student access to career and technical education, as well as pushing for funding to expand manufacturing training academies at community colleges across Illinois. These efforts are vital to ensuring Illinois can continue to experience strong economic growth in the coming decade, as more baby boomers are expected to exit the job market and companies seek to fill the resulting experience gaps.
“This tour is a unique way to highlight the benefits of a career in manufacturing, including competitive pay, job stability, ongoing skills development and opportunities for advancement,” said Sarah Hartwick, Senior Vice President and Corporate Board Secretary for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Executive Director of the IMA Foundation. “Regardless of your background, there’s a rewarding career in manufacturing waiting for you.”
