A career readiness center in Illinois is moving forward without a $7.5 million state grant. The center represents a collaboration between 14 school districts, business groups and Lake Land College.
Illinois spending $15M to launch 2 advanced manufacturing academies chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
May 3, 2021
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) – Illinois will spend $15 million on two academies that will train hundreds of workers in advanced manufacturing skills, with the first students enrolling later this year. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office said the advanced manufacturing academies will be located at Heartland Community College in the central Illinois community of Normal and at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, near St. Louis. The $15 million comes from Illinois’ capital plan. Other funding will come from regional partners and employers such as Rivian, which has an electronic vehicle assembly plant in Normal.
The governor’s office unveiled a 900-page energy overhaul bill Wednesday, accelerating a yearslong process which advocates hope will end in a comprehensive clean energy platform as the session nears its final month.
The stated goal of the bill is to drive Illinois to 100 percent “clean” energy by 2050. That, Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell said in an interview Wednesday, would include nuclear power as a major contributor. Another goal is to bring Illinois to 40 percent of its utility scale energy produced by renewables, such as wind and solar, by 2030. Right now, that number is around 8 percent.
The bill contains some of the provisions put forth in other legislation, raising the rate cap on ratepayer bills for renewable projects from about 2 percent to 3.75 percent; ending formulaic rate increases for utilities immediately; and prohibiting natural gas companies from assessing a surcharge on bills starting January 2022.
Illinois Gov. Pritzker Directs $15 Million to Manufacturing Training Academies
Gov. Pritzker at a past press conference. (Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press)
In an effort to develop the manufacturing workforce, Illinois Gov. Jay “J.B.” Pritzker announced a $15 million investment to build two advanced manufacturing training academies.
The academies, located in downstate Illinois, will offer hundreds of residents the opportunity to develop skills for careers in advanced manufacturing.
Pritzker, who was joined by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in making the announcement, said the academies will begin enrolling students later this year.
I’m proud to announce the winning projects of a $15 million #RebuildIllinois investment to establish two new downstate manufacturing training academies: @SWICedu in the Metro East and @Heartland CC and @Rivian here in Normal. pic.twitter.com/EFq8EzA4UE