CLC celebrates innovation and growth in manufacturing

October is Manufacturing Month, a time to celebrate and honor the pivotal role the manufacturing sector plays in Lake County’s economy and innovation landscape. College of Lake County’s (CLC) annual celebration highlights the importance of manufacturing, informs about lucrative career paths in the industry and fosters collaboration among educational institutions, local businesses and economic developers.

Throughout October, CLC will host a range of community events to engage and inspire the future manufacturing workforce:

• Engineering Night, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 2, 2024, at the Grayslake Campus This event will raise awareness about engineering careers through hands-on demonstrations and discussions with transfer universities, industry professionals and CLC faculty. Register to attend at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/engineering-night-oct-2024-registration-976269587617

• Manufacturing Career and Internship Fair, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 10, 2024, at the Grayslake Campus This event will provide a forum for job seekers to connect with potential employers and explore job and internship opportunities in manufacturing.

• Women in Manufacturing, 4:30-6 p.m., Oct. 15, 2024, at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) This event will highlight career opportunities for women in manufacturing through a panel of female industry leaders, apprentices and parents. Register to attend at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/gq38neq

In addition to events open to the community, CLC will host targeted events for high school students and staff to engage with local manufacturers, tour the ATC labs, participate in hands-on activities and learn about apprenticeships.

"Manufacturing Month exemplifies our commitment to fostering strong partnerships between education and industry,” said Dr. Ali O'Brien, vice president of community and workforce partnerships at CLC. “These events provide invaluable opportunities for students to explore career paths, for employers to connect with future talent and for the community to engage with the dynamic world of manufacturing. Together, we are building a brighter future for Lake County."

The intentional work to strengthen the manufacturing sector extends beyond October with the establishment of a new Manufacturing Alliance. CLC is proud to lead the charge on this initiative that aims to unite manufacturers, educators and community leaders to promote innovation, share best practices and address workforce challenges.

To learn more about local manufacturing and CLC’s Manufacturing Month celebration, read this blog post from Lake County Partners: https://www.lakecountypartners.com/celebrating-manufacturing-month-honoring-innovation-and-industry/