Throughout the month of October, we're celebrating National Manufacturing Day in Illinois. With events beginning October 1 at an Evanston industrial park, to the more than 60 open houses and events on October 4, to visits with legislators and manufacturing firms sprinkled throughout, it is surely evident that the manufacturing spirit is alive and well in Illinois.
Local and regional collaborations were a big trend for the second annual National Manufacturing Day celebrations. In the Dekalb/Kishwaukee area, eight manufacturers, Kishwaukee College, and five local high schools participated in a day-long exploration of manufacturing facilities and career and technical education opportunities. Whether it was the heavy metal themed t-shirts or the "cool" things they witnessed in the industrial settings, there was certainly a positive buzz coming from the students, teachers and all involved.
In the Metro East, more than 600 attendees, including 14 high schools flocked to the Southwestern Illinois College campus in Granite City for hands-on demonstrations and vendors, including a variety of local manufacturers. Additionally, the 400+ students were transported to several of nine manufacturers for facility tours to see manufacturing at work. Over 70 volunteers made this day possible and because of their efforts, the Metro East learned a little more about manufacturing and industrial careers.
To say that we saw success in Illinois for the second annual National Manufacturing Day would be an understatement. This was merely a snapshot of the great events and programs we saw across the state. As an organization supporting manufacturing excellence across the state, IMEC is proud to be a part of the regional initiatives to educate and spread the positivity for manufacturing! For more details about the MFG Day initiative and to see photos from across Illinois and the U.S., visit www.facebook.com/MFGDay
For information on how you can get involved in next year's activities or learn more about manufacturing, contact IMEC at info@imec.org or visit the website, www.imec.org.
