M3 Newsletter - May 2024

May 2024

On April 30, M3 Chicago launched the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Accelerator, an $810,000 ARPA-funded program providing manufacturers with a “concierge service” to identify and screen candidates for vacant U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)-registered apprenticeships.

Partnering with Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, the program will work directly with employers to meet their talent needs and will provide supportive services to apprentices during their first 90 days of employment. These services include career counseling, transportation assistance, professional attire, and referrals for childcare.

The Manufacturing Apprenticeship Accelerator will also connect local manufacturers with additional support through Jobs for the Future (JFF).

JFF offers manufacturers free coaching, technical assistance, and incentive funding to build a diverse, skilled pipeline of workers for careers in advanced manufacturing.

Interested manufacturers may contact Lisa Cockerham, Program Manager with the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, for more information.

Pictured: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and event attendees pose for a picture at the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Accelerator launch event.

The program launch was hosted at the John J. Lanigan Sr. Training Academy in Markham, IL by Mi-Jack Products Inc., a Cook County manufacturer with an apprenticeship program.

Roger Badun, manager of technical training at Mi-Jack, shared "We still need plumbers, we still need electricians. Not everybody can be the person behind the keyboard. This gives them a place to start.”

RESOURCES

Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented Grant

Join over 200 Cook County manufacturers who have utilized Manufacturing Reinvented, a $5 million grant program supporting manufacturers with the implementation of projects to improve a business’s competitiveness and resiliency. Eligible businesses may be reimbursed for up to $25,000 per completed project.

Please contact Jamie Moore, Program Manager, Industry Development, to learn more and apply today.

Cook County BRITE Grant Program

The Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program helps suburban Cook County small businesses, including eligible manufacturers, identify their energy efficiency savings through free on-site assessments.

The County will also award $6 million in grant funding to help businesses implement recommendations identified through these assessments, with a maximum award of $300,000 per applicant. For more information about the BRITE program and to review eligibility requirements, click here or email BRITE@cookcountyil.gov.

EVENTS

May

Strategies for Managing OSHA's

New Walkaround Rule

11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Location: Online

Presented By: IMEC, IMA

Join IMEC and IMA for a comprehensive webinar reviewing OSHA's new Final Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process Rule, and what manufacturers need to know before this rule goes into effect on May 31, 2024.

May

TMA Morning Mixer: Tinley Park

7:00 AM to 8:30 AM

Location: Tinley Park, IL

Presented By: Technology & Manufacturing Association

Join fellow manufacturers for a morning mixer hosted by the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) in Tinley Park. Local high school instructors will be in attendance to share information on their programs.

May

Manufacturing Reinvented Informational Event & Networking

3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Location: Chicago, IL

Presented By: M3 Chicago, IMEC, GNCDC

Join M3 Chicago alongside the Greater Northwest Chicago Development Corporation and IMEC to learn more about the Manufacturing Reinvented grant program.

May

Decoding CMMC: A Step-by-Step Compliance Roadmap

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Location: Online

Presented By: IMEC, Illinois Defense Network

Join IMEC and the Illinois Defense Network for a webinar unpacking the complexities of CMMC compliance with a clear, step-by-step roadmap. From scoping to certification, this session lays out each phase, helping you navigate the path to compliance with confidence.

May

Advancing Smart Logistics (ASL) Symposium

9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Location: University Park, IL

Presented By: Governors State University

Join Governors State University for the Advancing Smart Logistics Symposium, an initiative to modernize the logistics industry through Smart Logistics innovations. Learn about how freight electrification can bring about substantial positive impacts on both the economy and environment, plus discover insights into future business and job trends in this evolving field.

June

4-5

Next-Level Transformation: Elevating Your Digital Journey

June 4: 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM

June 5: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Chicago, IL

Presented By: Manufacturers Alliance, MxD

Take your digital journey to the next level by attending this two-day event presented by Manufacturers Alliance and MxD. Hear about the cutting-edge applications in the industry while considering cybersecurity concerns, advanced data analytics, IT/OT collaboration, and growth alongside emerging technologies.

MISSION: M3 Chicago advances equitable and sustainable development by helping manufacturers expand, collaborate, network, innovate and access critical resources. M3 Chicago connects the region’s manufacturers, economic development organizations, local governments, educational and research institutions, trade associations and workforce agencies.

May 2024

RESOURCES

Cook County Manufacturing Reinvented Grant

Cook County BRITE Grant Program

EVENTS

Strategies for Managing OSHA's

New Walkaround Rule

TMA Morning Mixer: Tinley Park

Manufacturing Reinvented Informational Event & Networking

Decoding CMMC: A Step-by-Step Compliance Roadmap

Advancing Smart Logistics (ASL) Symposium

Next-Level Transformation: Elevating Your Digital Journey

Keep in touch!﻿ Send questions, comments, or content suggestions to: M3@CookCountyIL.gov

Keep in touch! Send questions, comments, or content suggestions to: M3@CookCountyIL.gov