Manufacturing Month Highlight: Richard J. Daley College's MTEC Is the Last Stop on the Final Day of 2026 “Makers on the Move” Bus Tour

CHICAGO - The 2026 "Makers on the Move" statewide bus tour, which is hosted every October by the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) to celebrate Manufacturing Month, began its final day on the road at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago on Friday.

Now in its fifth year, the tour launched on October 2 in Decatur, traveling 2,000 miles across Illinois and making more than 30 stops at 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 sustainable manufacturing environments. The stop at Daley College included a tour of the Manufacturing Technology Engineering Center (MTEC), where students gain hands-on experience in computer-integrated manufacturing, robotics, and factory automation. The MTEC is the only center of its type that holds the industrial equipment needed for students to receive the professional training needed to be work-ready on day one. Additional information about "Makers on the Move," including a full list of stops, can be found at https://makersonthemove.org.

"The past week has been an incredible experience as manufacturers across the state opened their doors to showcase the amazing products, skilled workforce and high-tech environments that comprise modern manufacturing in Illinois," said Mark Denzler, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. "We celebrate these manufacturers who create thousands of jobs and make innovative products that feed the nation and transform the world. The time is now for the younger generation to utilize the many opportunities available to pursue stable and rewarding careers in this exciting industry."

Modern manufacturing jobs require computer skills as well as traditional mechanical skills. Daley College combines foundational classroom learning with hands-on training on high-tech equipment.

"We are honored that the Illinois Manufacturers' Association chose to feature our Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Center (MTEC) facilities at Richard J. Daley College. This recognition highlights the tireless dedication of our exceptional faculty and staff, who prepare our students for the needs of the ever-evolving modern workforce," said President Isacc Zúñiga, Richard J. Daley College. "By aligning our cutting-edge facilities with model pathways into high-demand careers, together, we ensure our students are uniquely equipped to thrive in manufacturing and reach their career goals. For this and their partnership, we are deeply grateful to IMA."

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.

"Manufacturers across Illinois are powerhouses of innovation and resiliency," said Dan Hofmann, Interim President of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. "As we traveled across the state, we saw how they were able to confront daunting challenges in the areas of workforce development, supply chain management and a constantly changing economic policy. Their innovation continues to transform those challenges into investment."

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 guiding theme of this year's tour is opportunity. There are more jobs available in manufacturing than ever before, with a variety of pathways and training programs available to prepare students for meaningful careers," said Sarah Hartwick, Senior Vice President and Corporate Board Secretary for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and Executive Director of the IMA Foundation. "Students can take technical education courses in high school, build their skills through apprenticeship positions or fine tune their expertise at specialized college programs across the state. This is an exciting time to become part of this highly rewarding industry."

About the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, visit https://ima-net.org/.

About the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)
The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is celebrating 30 years of helping Illinois manufacturers become stronger, more competitive, and prepared for long-term growth. Through tailored solutions, hands-on expertise, and strategic support, IMEC partners with small and mid-sized manufacturers to improve operations, strengthen workforce performance, drive innovation, and build resilient businesses. With a statewide team of industry improvement specialists, IMEC works alongside manufacturers to help them plan, implement, and sustain meaningful change. In 2025, IMEC assisted 3,742 companies and helped create or retain 6,871 jobs, generating more than $905 million in economic impact across Illinois. Learn more at www.IMEC.org.

About Richard J. Daley College
Richard J. Daley College is City College's Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing programs. Industry leaders work with Daley College manufacturing instructors to help align curriculum with new industry standards and ensure facilities provide the hands-on training needed to succeed in their chosen career. Manufacturing classes are also available at Daley College's satellite campus Arturo Velasquez Institute. City Colleges of Chicago is currently enrolling now for its Fall 8-week, Winter 4-Week, and Spring 16-Week sessions. Fall 8-week session begins October 19, 2026. Register today and click here to apply.

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Advanced Manufacturing student Paris speaks about the support she has received at Daley College while Chancellor Juan Salgado looks on.

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